Tara Nolan – Ironman Australia

Tara Nolan the current Irish Ironman record holder pulled out yet another class performance at Ironman Australia.  The fastest run split of the day (yes that’s faster than all the pro women) gave her a 10h 05min finishing time and sixth place overall.  All this in spite of having to repair a flat tyre on the bike.  Tara dropped me a few line about her build-up, race and now her preparation for the World Champs in Hawaii.

“I went to Port Macquarire obviously in good form having a good block of training in my lead up to the race. I had travelled to Western Australia earlier in December and experienced probably one of the nastiest days every out racing – 4 flats. So having not even completed 45kms on the bike, I had to pull out of the race as I didn’t even have enough spares for the third puncture…..i had to wait around for the support mechanics! My race was over before it even started! That incidence was not a technical bike problem as all my componentry had been checked prior to races day and even afterwards – it was just one of those filthy days!

On race day In Port however, i was pretty calm – a type of calm that i have come to expect knowing that i had done so much work and with a little luck on the day, i knew i’d pull together a good performance. I guess you’d call it confidence! The swim started nice and early in the Hastings river and it was a pretty tight two lap swim. Nearly 1600 people all channelled into a narrow route so it was a tough and competitive swim but i did a personal best over the 3.8km distance and swam 1hr and 2 mins. I dont wear a watch on race day so i wasn’t aware of my good time but knuckled down to business on the bike. However, 6km into the ride i had a puncture – i couldn’t believe it! But i kept my head and tried to change it as quickly as i could. 10 minutes later i was back in the sadlle and was riding like a woman posessed! I just couldn’t believe that i had had such bad luck with the puncture but put it to the back of mind! I rode hard and didn’t think of the consequences, i just wanted to make up that lost time and to try and pass all the people who looked at me changing my tyre!

I seemed to ride well and even though the wind was really picking up – i managed to pass a lot more people than i thought, especially those girls in my own age group. Eventually after a 5hr 30 bike i went into transition 2 and threw on my runners. It was a pretty quick transition but i knew i still had a number of age groupers to catch following the earlier puncture i had and i went out on that run with a bit of ghusto. I knew exactly what i wanted as an outcome from the race and i was making sure that i was going to get it. Since Hawaii i had too many mishaps to allow another one to develop …i was still going to win and earn that spot to Hawaii.

Within 8 kms of the run i had ran myself into first place in my age group and by the end of 42.2kms i had ran myself into 6th place overall out of the professional girls and was the first non professional female over the line. It turns out i ran a 3.27 marathon in extremely hot and hilly conditions but it was faster than all the other women in the field even the pro girls………..not a bad result even though the last 10km was very difficult as my legs were so fatigued – i started to feel the effort that i had put in on the bike earlier. I knew though that i had earned that much coveted spot to Hawaii so i was very happy. The fastest female run of the day – I was proud!

Anyhow, although i didn’t go as fast as i had expected to, considering i had a puncture and in hot, hilly and windy conditions, i was extremely happy. Again i proved to myself that i have what it takes to be up there with the pro girls – and that’s a good feeling!!

I have now had two weeks of active recovery and also a little partying but I have just resumed training once more. With 28 weeks to Hawaii, i am very eager to spend the first 8 weeks soley concentraing on my swimming. It’s going to be a little tough as we are approaching Winter in Oz, but i’ll still be training in an outdoor pool – so here’s hoping they start cranking up those heaters.

Thanks again ….

Tara”

A full breakdown of Tara’s times.

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