Firstly getting here was a problem. I was at a conference in Slovenia and flew into Bergen Friday night thinking the race was on Sunday. Bad move as the race was on Saturday. My flight landed at 11:30pm, so it was 12:30am by the time we were settled into the hotel, then I assembled my bike, 1pm into bed. 4:30 alarm went off, in taxi at 5 and arrived at race start 5:30 for 6:30 start. I needed the full hour because I missed the athletes briefing so had a personal briefing the next morning (follow the guy in front, T1 & T2 are in different places, be careful of the wind and cold water), and it took a while to set up the bike and T1 & T2 (4.5 km apart). The separate T1 & T2 was necessary as the fjord was a bit cold, 10 degrees to be precise, so the lake, at 14.5 degrees, was a better option. I chose to use a neoprene hood and boots which helped, I didnt see anyone swim without a wetsuit. Body marking was interesting, because we wear basically full cover during the race our race numbers are marked on our face, yep, we will have to tell Baggsy that one. So we had our race number on our right cheek, back of left hand, and left leg. Btw if you thought the water was cold the air temperature was 10 degrees all day, but it was reported to have got as high as 11 degrees in the sun if protected from the wind. The wind chill factor is not worth thinking about.

 

We were invited into the water 5 mins before race start but I didn't take up that offer, 30 seconds was enough for me. It was a deep water start, and only 110 participants so it was a very pleasant start and swim. It was a two lap course and they are not good swimmers over here so I was about midfield. There were only turn markers but they were big and orange so they could be seen from a long way. I found a lot of the time I was swimming alone, the field was very spread out lengthwise but seemed to be all on course. The wind was incredible, where we started it was relatively calm, but out on the lake it was furious. We found out later we had 60 to 70 kph winds all day!!! I am also certain that due to the funnelling effect the wind was stronger at some points. I have never known a wind like it. Back at the swim start two bike racks got blown over. Karen helped put them back together but competitors gear got mixed up and they were concerned some competitors would find they had two left shoes or similar. While I was swimming I thought I saw a flock of white birds take off from the water, I stopped for a better look and realised it was the white cap of a wave about to hit me. The waves weren't big, the wind was too strong for that, but it was choppy. I didn't mind but they don't do much open water swimming here so a few people struggled. By the time I finished I was pretty cold. My hands wouldn't work, but Karen was there to help me change.

T1 was the footpath, so we all stripped off and changed. We were so cold we looked like a bunch of girls anyway. My transition time of over 12 minutes reflects the cold conditions. Onto the bike and the first half of the course was reasonably protected from the amazing wind. The wind was unrelenting. It sounded like a jet engine blowing through the trees on the protected parts of the course. The bike course is rather hilly, in fact there are no flat sections. you can see the course profile at http://www.bergentriathlon.no/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=61  My rough calculation is that the total climb is about 1,600 metres or 5,500 feet but I am open to correction, I worked that out with a ruler on the graph. Anyway the hills were big, and steep. We rode out into the wind and returning gave us some respite. Going uphill into the wind was difficult. We would have to get off the seat but still needed to keep the aero position so I was bent right over, then a side wind would hit and as I was leaning so far forward the bike was really unstable. btw I noticed very few competitors had high profile rims. I had 404's and again would recommend against them in windy conditions. I rode the legs into the wind using the drop bars to lower my centre of gravity. A lot of competitors did not have aero bars which couldn't be used much also because of the wind. As we got out to the back end of the course (4 laps each 45 km) we were very exposed. There were a few dangerous stretches when we rode into the full force of a side wind. After the first lap I slowed a lot for these dangerous sections, after that I actually stopped just before I got to that section. We had to stop to take nutrition anyway, it was too dangerous when exposed. I would stop and have a snack, then I was riding slow when the side wind hit me. It was easy to pick the worse spot as the ambulance was waiting. there were a few walking wounded on the run leg and I expect they met the road at this point.

Anyway if you have never cycled into a 70 kph wind I would say don't do it. It was like riding in sand. I never knew which way the handlebars were going to turn and I just had to go with it. At some stages we were doing 5 kph into the wind and working hard. It was just amazing and bloody hard work. I got blown off the road at one point, but was doing less than 10kph and I went off when the wind stopped blowing, just as dangerous. At the end of the race my arms, especially forearms, were extremely sore from controlling the handlebars. Many times I thought I would not finish the race. I kept telling  myself there is nothing wrong with pulling out, but I will just keep going until I cannot go any further. One lap at a time. That way I got through. I think the hardest problem was nutrition as during the first two laps I hardly ate or drank and I hit the wall. It wasn't until I stopped to ensure I took lots of nutrition in that I overcame that problem. I amazed myself that I got through that ride, only 2 competitors rode under 6 hours! The wind really whistled through the bike frame, so much that I thought my wheel was rubbing again and I got off and checked the bike!

Onto the run was a huge relief. The run was also 4 laps which I found mentally easy. Again there are lots of hills but also a causeway or breakwall that is flat for a km or so. I enjoyed the run and the other competitors were all friendly and supportive. Running along the breakwall with the amazing wind I really thought I was going to be blown into the ocean and could imagine death by hypothermia but to my knowledge we all made it through, but I wouldn't let my kids out in those conditions. There is a rule in Ironman where competitors can be disqualified if unable to make forward progress. They could have disqualified us a number of times in the run when the wind was blowing head on, we were like a bunch of drunks walking home.

Some of the special things about this race:

I won my age group !!! and there was someone else in my age group.

I finished in daylight. I was confident I would do that prior to the race as the sun doesn't set until 11:30pm and rises at 1am, and in between it is still daylight, cars don't even need headlights, so everyone finished in daylight.

The scenery is fantastic, Norway, and Bergen in particular, is beautiful.

It is great doing a low key event. I used to do adventure racing but now I race IM because it is easier. The organising is done for me and I just have to cover the distance. These low key races are getting back to the nitty gritty and I love it.

Should they have cancelled the race like they did at IM New Zealand a few years ago. I say no and I appreciate their decision to proceed despite of the incredible and possibly dangerous conditions. This was not a race with 1,000 competitors, there were only 110 of us (35 dnf's). As individuals we had the option of pulling out if we did not want to take the risk. I believe they are making Ironman too easy and that is one reason I chose to come to Bergen. The water is colder, the hills are bigger, and for this year only the wind was exceptional. I am pleased I was here when that wind blew. Any other year will be as good because the hills will give anyone enough challenge, but I was lucky.

Will I be back, I will love to come back and quite possibly will, but I have a few other races to do first, especially Norseman.

Love to everyone, and I will be doing IM France next weekend so I will send you my report after that.