Murakami Olympic Distance 2012

Murakami Olympic Distance

The Murakami race just seems to get bigger every year. This was our 4^th time to do it, as it’s one of our favourite races of the year and certainly one of the best races in Japan. This year there were around 800 Age Groupers plus relays and also a pro ITU Asian Champs (Wannabe junior Olympians) racing a draft legal event complete with the blue carpet and ITU bike racks etc. It is also the final race of the JTU (Japan Triathlon Union) series points race, which a lot of AG athletes aim to win. The top ranked athletes in the officially sanctioned JTU races around Japan can represent Japan at the AG world champs – last year Beijing, this year Auckland, next year London. Over the last few years it has also been seen as foreign triathlon show down amongst gaijin (foreigners) in Japan. Previously it was me, Eric and Pete Jenkins all very similar level athletes doing battle at the pointy end as well as many people having their own battles with athletes around their level. Eric and Pete had recently left Japan, but there was still some 50+ foreigners and good fun and plenty of banter flowing around on pre-race emails to spice things up.

I'm a grower, not a shower.

My bugbear with the race here has always been the wave starts.  If you don’t know the sport it sounds like sour grapes, but for those in the sport you know: different gun = different race. Some races (Ishikigaki) seed the starts on predicted swim times but in Murakami it’s on age groups with a seemingly random grouping. Under 35s first, then 5 minutes later 30-35, and 45-49 males, then 40-44 and 50-60 males, then all women and 60+ males. The first wave has the big advantage of not swimming through slower swimmers in the waves ahead and having the faster guys to ride together. The ladies and older men being last had the problem of trying to beat the pretty tough cut-off times for this race. This year the start was 10am in the heat of the day and heaps of people missed the cut off and were pulled off the course - which really sucks considering the expense and effort they all went to get on the start line.

Has happened to the best in the world. Especially when they go "Panyagia"- (Bread and water - no PEDS.)

The start list before the race was posted a few days before the race an it had a few of the faster guys from older age groups shuffled into the first wave with the young guys. There were two guys from my AG and also a fast guy from the 35-39, Takahashi. I think these guys were going for the ‘overall’ JTU point’s title so were all-together. We had a whinge to the organisers before the start asking to be put in the front group too, but they brushed us and later rescinded by removing those guys from their AG race. This was good as I once got beat by 1 second into 2nd by a guy who started 8 minutes after me - not really a race. 

Takahashi ended up winning the race overall, and the two guys in my AG were close behind. I’ve never met Takahashi but know of him and his results. He’s a 60kg Tokyo resident and one of the top AG triathletes in Japan, he qualified for Hawaii in 2011 but missed out this year.  I know from his times he is very similar swim-biker to me but a superior runner and the heat does not affect him at all. He was 6^th overall in IM Korea a couple of years ago when it was silly hot, when he nicked his Kona slot. I also understand recently departed Tokyo Tri man Eric H met through the ‘Active Singles’ section on www.adultfriendfinder.com and I hear from reliable sources Eric has a mini-shrine - “Takahashi Corner” in his new apartment in France, with various pictures, race results, signed race numbers of the great man, carefully displayed, and Eric offers gifts of Power bar Gels and locally sourced Pocari Sweat, refreshing them diligently every Monday.

My humble offering.

SWIM 1,500m 23.40

I started out way left and went pretty hard for the first 100m. Breathing only every 8 strokes, then 6, then 4 then into my familiar every 2^nd stroke. My plan was to stay wide, away from the rope and hopefully avoid the slow swimmers from waves ahead. I ended up going to the front of my wave and not seeing any other gold caps for the whole swim, but the waves ahead were spread out well away from the ropes too. It was only a few hundred metres in when I caught the first pink cap and from then on it was a mental challenge to plot your way through the pink and blue caps. I just had to sight every second breath and plot my course, remembering the swimmers around – 'catch a glimpse': breast stroker on the left, slight gap on the right to go through, then big group ahead, so duck through gap close to guy on right, then head really wide etc…It was mentally taxing and a few times I go stopped completely in my tracks through a collision. The water temp was 27, air temp 35 and it was wet suit compulsory so I got really hot in the last few hundred metres. When I got out I looked back and could not see a gold cap at all so knew I had at least a minute lead.

I called upon all kinds of experience for this swim leg. All the hard work in preparation was worth it.

Bike 40kms 1.09.45

My transition was one of the worst I’ve ever done. I went down the wrong row of bikes, then had to loop all the way around to come back to mine, then my Kask aero helmet's ratchet was still tightened but as the Kask has the “drop down” ratchet that goes down to the lower part of your skull it is really difficult to get on if tight, I tried anyway but the chin-strap would not buckle with it sitting so high on my head. Didn’t stop me from trying though. After a while I took it off and loosened it and put it on again, and eventually got the buckle done up, more wet suit and sunglass issues and general clumsiness and I eventually made it out on the bike. There is a 100m flat section, then steep hill of about 80m before getting on the bike. Previously you mounted at the bottom and ride up the 80m steep hill. This year, maybe due to the increased numbers, you had to walk/run up the hill. I walked it. I hate long runs after a hard swim. Finally got on the bike and I had nothing.

My Bike Leg in an image.

It was a strong headwind right from the start of the 20km out and back bike course and I just could not go at all. I thought it was due to the over-heating in the swim and the long transition, but I never really came good. I won the race two weeks before in Tomokomai averaging about 41kph and around 300W, but this day I could hardly hold 250W. After the turn around it was nice to have the tail wind, but my watts were still way down. I never really got passed but the whole ride I was pushing shit uphill.  Coach Woody knowingly told me it was because of the 2.30 run I did with Ness the week before the race and those long run take it out of me. He’s always going on about heavier guys like me not being able to take the big run volume and especially long runs and he’s probably right. I limped into T2 frustrated but still in the lead. It was 9^th fastest bike of the day, so not a total disaster but I wanted the fastest after last year having lost a chain and early dismount and was 2^nd.

RUN 10km 41.05

The run is always my nemesis and in Murakami I’ve always had a shocker. Last year was my famous blow-up when I got all dizzy and disoriented and ended up sitting in a gutter for an hour. It’s now part of the Murakami gaijin-folklore, I always aim to entertain! This year I wanted to start out easy as the first km is mostly downhill and it’s easy to go out too hard. I was going 4 min k pace, but I wasn’t really holding back. It was too bloody hot. I kept running slower and slower but was only passed by a few people all with low numbers – meaning they were from lower age groups and had started 5 or 10 minutes ahead of me. I was considering the futility of pushing hard, it was hot as hell and was thanking Queen Kaioulouhamahamahahamama (or whatever her name is) that I was not racing Hawaii. "I wouldn’t have to go through this hot-depressed frame of mind in four weeks", i thought. Then 6kms in I was running/ shuffling my slowest yet at 4.45 min k pace and a guy with No. 585 passed. I was 615 so I thought he was 40-44 in my swim wave for sure. 

Damn that’s the AG win there I thought – you fucker. So I latched onto his back. I ran the whole of the last 3.7kms right behind him. I must have been as annoying as Mark Allen was to Dave Scott in the ‘Iron War’ of ’89 when Allen was stronger but just raced in Scott’s lap all day. We did the last few kms at 4-4.15min k pace and I was thinking about the long run I’d done and the reverse periodization and Nicola Spirig benefitting from the unusual Sutto-esque prep in the Olympics of doing a Half ironman two weeks before she won gold, when her competitors were racing sprint distance. I thought I have the endurance to do it if I want to and I did want the AG win - so time to dip into the pain bucket you pussy! 500 from home I almost got blown over by cyclone Vanessa as she sprinted past us! She gave me a little wave, which was very kind of her. She was two laps down but started 5 minutes down.

Sayonara Bevan-san. I will honourably be running 38 low now.

My mate was well and truly sick of me and was pretty glad when I put the burners on and sprinted soon after Ness passed. I was thinking of Sutto telling Spirig not to go until 300m out - but she went 1km out and I went 500m out. My mate was cactus and folded pretty quickly and I got the pleasure of pretending I was running better than Ness and re-passing her before the finish line. I had a chat with the guy after the race and he was cool as - it turned out the guy was in the 45-49 and hard started 5 minutes ahead of me but he ran a 38 high so I was glad to have him to push me. Ness ran 38.20 – her first time under 41 in an OD, let alone 40 or 39! And she did not taper at all – running 19kms the day before the race in the middle of the heat and riding 6 hours on Thursday. She is going great now and this race and last race in Tomokomai I finished ahead of her in the gender ranks, but in reality - her performances have been better than mine - she just had some really exceptional opponents and I was lucky to meet some weakfish fields. I can’t wait to cheer her in Kona and see how she goes. Her Dad and brother are coming over –should be fantastic!

Shouldn't complain too much. Got gold and 5kgs of rice for  the Yukester.

More Podium time.

Tomokomai Hascup Triathlon

Despite Hokkaido being a terrific location for triathlons, there are currently only two proper triathlons held here; the Higashikawa "Chubetsuko Triathlon" an olympic distance race near Asahikawa, and this race - The "Hascup Triathlon" in Tomokomai on the South Coast of Hokkaido. There used to be a long distance triathlon in Wakkanai in the far north, but that stopped a few years ago. There are a few small races, one with the swim in a pool on a Friday, then bike and run on Saturday, but I don't really count them as proper triathlons (sorry I've watching too much BBC during the Olympics -  they love the word 'proper' and please forgive any forthcoming use of 'brilliant' 'literally', 'absolutely' and 'obviously').

"Thorpey, obviously Team GB have had a proper medal rush that has literally been absolutely brilliant.  Team GB innit brilliant? Team GB.  Proper, brilliant Team GB, Team GB. Oh did I say Team GB?"

The Higashikawa race is the biggest race, held on a damn about 30kms from Asahikawa (the 2nd biggest city in Hokkaido after Sapporo) and it is a cool event that Ness and I and a bunch of friends from Niseko, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong did a month ago before our bike tour of Hokkaido. I got 3rd in the AG category and was beaten by an elite junior (Kubono) and Ikeda-san in the "tokubetsu" (elite) category, both passing me after 5-7kms on the run. Both guys were on the start line in the Hascup race.

The overall winner was Brian Barkhouse who is an ex-pro cyclist and duathlete, who had represented Canada racing on the world Duathlon circuit toeing the line with Normann Stadler and the best in the world. In Higashikawa he biked the 40kms in an hour flat on a hilly course - pretty impressive, but then you realise T1 and T2 are included and it is pretty insane. Kubono-san is the eldest son of Hokkaido triathlon legend Masa Kubono who won the aforementioned long course tri in  Wakkania Hokkaido three times and has competed in Hawaii five times. He runs Hokkaido's best tri store in Chitose "Sports Sweat", coaches some of Japan's best triathletes and his youngest son was 2nd in the Hascup last year and won the Asian junior champs in HK earlier this year and his 14 year old daughter is swimming 400m in 4.30 and running 3kms in under 10 minutes. And no, I can't get close to either of those times....look out for her in the coming years.

Team Niseko Triathlon!

 The Higashikawa race has a big hill on the bike that you go over three times, which for an 85kg punter like myself, is not ideal. The Hascup had a flat bike course and I knew I would have a bigger gap off the bike on Ikeda-san and Kubono-san than I had in Higashikawa. Along with those two guys was my great mate and TNT / Niseko Multi Sports founder and tri coach, Jess Ripper. Jess is a very similar athelte to me on all three disciplines but had gone through a post-Im funk.. Jess was recently 10th overall, winning his age group in the Goto Ironman race (formerly Ironman Japan).  Jess had a poor swim and then crashed on the bike-mount area in Higashikawa, and I knew he had more installed. Also racing was defending Hascup champ Furukawa-san and a 17 year old local kid from Tomokomai who was featured at the welcome party - he was brought up on stage by the organiser to accept a banner of some sort and I didn't quite get his speech but assumed it was something about honourably representing the area and solemnly giving all he had on the race course. Gambarimasu!

Ridiculously photogenic Shigeru-san flying on the run course.

There was a good crew from the newly formed Team Niseko Triathlon (TNT - we're Dynamite Oi Oi) three triathlon virgins Shigeru, Ken and Keisuke and another 5 supporters who came to watch the race. We stayed the previous night in Tomokomai and went out for a buffet dinner and ate way too much. Ken talked me into going for the all you can drink deal as it was only Y1,000 and one beer was Y550! Three beers is OK the night before a 9am start right? It was cool to hang out with the guys and soak up the nervous energy that comes with doing your first tri.

Go Team Niseko!

This was the 26th running of this race, which is pretty impressive considering the longest running Ironman on mainland US is 22 years, it must have begun in the very early days of the sport. We signed up for a standard Olympic distance race (1.5k swim/40km bike/ 10km run) but found at at registration it had been shortened to 1.5/36/8 due to some of the course being unavailable. The shorter run played into my hands and I knew this race was good for my strengths: a wetsuit swim (better for 'adult swimmers' like me with crap technique), and the flat bike course which I was confident would give me more time off the run a hilly course. I just needed to be a couple of minutes clear off the bike and hang on for grim death through the run. I knew I had a great chance to win, but it was not going to be easy. Hopes were raised further when I saw Barkhouse was not registered.

Saving my shoulders....or just didn't know we had to "Bansai!"

SWIM 1,500 (yeah right!) 17.30
The swim start was a narrow ramp down to the water, self seeded and I warmed up late and planted myself on the front row with the familiar rivals. Not sure Why they couldn't do a floating start - this narrow-chute system would not work for a bigger race. The course was a two loop triangle in a marina,  a good honest swim course with no waves ahead to slow you down and everyone going on the one gun. It was short in length but fair. I go a decent start but 200m in, I saw two guys drifting ahead.

Charge!

I knew those two were real swimmers and outta my league so just tried to swim moderate and concentrated on keeping my arms wide. I had Ikeda-san on my tail through the first lap and although I didn't know it, Jess was right there too. After one lap, Ikeda put the hammer down and I jumped onto his feet. In the last 200m we got into a bit of a mess with slower swimmers form the first lap, and Ikeda got away by about 5-10 seconds coming out of the water, with Jess another 10 seconds back.

Ikeda, me and Jess coming into swim exit.

BIKE 36kms 55mins (incl T1/2)
Running into T1, I saw Ikeda go the wrong side of the bike racks just in front of me, and thought to myself optimistically- 'that's it mate - you won't see me again today'. I had a pretty quick transition and was out onto the sweet flat and straight tarmac before you knew it. I had forgotten my aero helmet and borrowed Kei-san's who had come from Niseko to support and go for a ride after the race. I usually tape over all the vents when using a road helmet for aerodynamics but did not want to leave sticky residue on his lid so was extra vigilant in trying to get as low as I could and 'hide from the wind" looking down for long periods.

Vision is over-rated.

 The course was a long straight road that went out 8km, then a U turn and back 4kms and another U turn, 3 more laps of the half-course at the far end, then 8kms straight back into transition. I went out hard and for the first 7kms and couldn't even see the two guys ahead. I was wondering if I was coming first and the other two guys ahead on the swim were just swimming or had taken a wrong turn, as I was sure I would have been able to see them ahead on the straight course. Just before the turnaround I saw the two of them still quite a bit ahead and both looked to be going strong. After the turnaround they came back by me and I got a good look at them - as I expected it was the 17 year old local and Kubono-san. I had to keep calm and keep working - I knew I had to come off the bike with a decent lead but was telling myself that there is still plenty of time to build it.

Stay focussed!

18kms in and Jess rode up to my wheel and passed me.  I was not expecting that. It's not often I get passed on the flats when I am riding hard and going OK. Hats off to The Ripper he was crushing it and I told him so. We swapped the lead a couple of times and passed the two young guys 20kms in. I knew I needed a few minutes off the bike so was a bit worried it had taken so long. After the final turn for home 8km left, I said to Jess "Let's keep it at 43k's" he held it for a minute or so then slowed,  and I put my head down looked at road and went, keeping it steady at 43. I looked back after a minute and Jess was off the back. I guessed he'd burnt a few too many matches bridging up in the first 15kms. We had spoken about going 1-2 before the race, we went close, Jess slowing that bit too much on the last few kms off the bike was the difference. I got into T2 with a decent break and it was cool to see the surprise on the faces of the TNT supporters to have one of their guys in the lead.

Go Ken-san! Digging deep in the Team Niseko colours. He was 6th off the bike.

RUN 8kms 32.30
I had gone into the race with a injury to my foot and decided to race with really spongy shoes - the Hoka One One shoes that would help protect my foot and also so they wouldn't collect little rocks on the off-road section of the run. I was pretty keen to run at a constant 3.45 pace and promised myself I wouldn't see a number on my watch beginning with 3.3x in the first few ks, with the aim of not seeing any numbers in the last few ks that looked like 4.2x. After 400m running scared I looked down and it was reading 3.25-30. We were running with a breeze but I kept trying to slow myself down.

2km in, Jess in the background.

The course was 2kms out and back twice. Going way back to the finish line. I tried not to look around but couldn't resist and never saw the chasers. I had been in this position a few times before - leading on the run and had been run down every time. I was doing the math in my head the whole run, if I can keep running 3.5X they will need to run 3.3x and surely they can't do that the whole 8ks? It was either thinking about that or concentrate on your run technique you idiot....I knew Jess and i are very similar runners so did not think he could bridge the gap, but was worried about Kubono, the 17year old  and Ikeda. When I saw Kubono running the other way after 4kms he looked to be sprinting and I thought - he's going to cook himself and struggle home and tried to keep that thought through the last 4kms. Still with no experience of holding off the chasers it was hard to think positive. I need to start up a support group for swim bikers who always get run down.

Indeed there is.......

Ness running strong!

I looked back one or two times more and didn't see anyone, but it was only in the last 200m when I passed the TNT supporters did I finally believe I was going to take the win. The sense of relief was exhilarating.

Finally know it's in the bag.

 I came to to the finish line tape and wondered what to do with it. During a triathlon almost everyone gets the finishing tape held up for them, but I had obviously never had the honour of being the first. Should I just chest it and let it drop ala Macca in Hawaii in 2010? Grab it and flex the guns like Craig Alexander in 2009? I decided to grab it and lift it up above my head, but the two chicks holding the tape decided they were not going to let it go, so I was trying hard to lift it but they never let me get it very high. so we had a bit of a tussle with me wrenching it and them not wanting to give a cm (metric system in Japan). Anyway it was done and I was so stoked. I was hoping Jess was 2nd but he had just been passed by Kobune and he was in third.

Give it up!

Ness got 2nd and was pretty close to the winner Sawada-san who is pretty much a full time pro and had won this race for the last 6 years. Ness had a really good race even out-splitting me on the run and swimming better than normal. She is ready for a top race in Hawaii.

Ness crushing it.

We went for an onsen (hot spring bath) and only just made it back to the awards ceremony in time. The trophy for this race was the biggest one I've ever seen in a triathlon, as they normally give you a small plaque, a bag of salt or a mounted coconut or something like that. I was pretty stoked but not sure where we were going to put it.

Girls - winners are grinners! They work hard for it and good on them for enjoying it.

 It was great to finally get a win, lots of people have been very kind and a few asking if it "Has made it all worth it" and "How long until you guys stop now?". I guess it's a bit different form our side - I just see triathlon like a hobby - people don't ask golfers how long they are planning to keep playing.

Sure this sport can be brutal and it has forced me to eat so much humble pie I have gagged on it sometimes, but you get the occasional good day and the very rare great day and the fact they are so hard to come by makes them all the more sweet.

Good times with The Rip!