“We have another finisher in the chute and he is also going to break 9 hours. Its number 699 Kristian Manietta, that’s Charlotte Paul’s husband, what a cracking race. He has just won the 30-34 age group” Pete Murray.

I had dreamt of hearing those words for a long time, and now on my 9th Ironman it had become a reality. Lining up in Busselton was always on the cards after racing in Kona and I had set 3 goals for myself.

The first was to get on the podium, which would also ensure goal number two, get a slot to Kona and the third if all going well was to break 9 hours again. I can say I had a great day achieving the three goals and it might be a while before I wipe the smile off my face ?

I positioned myself right on the front line for the swim and then we were off. Two strokes in I copped a stinger across the face. It was a tough task trying to pull the thing off without getting swum over in the chaotic mass of swimmers, I did manage to get rid of it but was left with some nasty welts on my face. The first five hundred meters or so went well and then it felt like the handbrake got put on.

My swim training had gone well but something was not going right and I was getting passed by a lot of swimmers and I couldn’t even stay on feet to get a draft. I spent most of the swim solo trying to keep positive, as Ironman is a long day.

Exiting the water I realised I hadn’t started my stopwatch and the clock was showing 1:10:xx which was the pro start clock so I had thought I’d swum around the 55 minutes which ended up being 56:26.

I quickly got out onto the bike course and got in to a nice steady rhythm from the get go. My legs felt awesome and I was sitting on around 38km/hr and hardly breathing. Approximately 15km in I was passed and this athlete provided a nice steady pace slightly quicker then me and even riding at 10 metres back there is a definite advantage as it provides a good focus.

Coming into the first turn at 22km, I could get an idea of where I was, not in terms of my age group but age group over all. There wasn’t that many now in front and we definitely set our sights on swallowing up as many as we could.

At 55k we caught a pack of five, which had the eventual second place getter in my age group (whom I’d battle it out with on the run later in the day). We settled in here and about a quarter way through the second lap I felt the pace slow too much and we had a large pack behind. So I took to the front and pushed the pace to around the 40km/hr mark for the next 25 minutes or so, then two of us swapped doing the workload with the others sitting in pretty.

At each turn I noticed the large pack behind getting closer and closer and the other athlete sharing the workload got annoyed and put in a pretty huge effort to get away. I made an executive decision to stay put, as I knew that pack would eventually get us and they did on the way back out of town on the third lap.

Now it was just the task of staying legal and not getting a penalty, the pack also gave me an opportunity to sit off the back for awhile to relieve the bladder pressure I had be carrying for nearly two hours… with the nature break out of the way I steadily rode back up to the front nearing the final turn around before heading home.

Fortunately we had a couple of draft busters with us that split the group up “a little” by the time we hit T2. At this stage I knew I had ridden under 4h 50 but the sole focus now was running into and then maintaining a podium spot.

I got my silly socks (compression socks) on and my new Nike lunar racers and was out onto the run course. My legs felt really good and I dialled in my mid 90’s stride rate from the get go. I passed about four guys by the first aid station only too loose all those places and more after an Austin Powers long pee stop! I just can’t do the pee and run thing.

Now I felt better and I was off, chasing down as many guys in front of me as possible. One of my athletes who were watching told me I was in fourth, so my task was set.

By the first turn around I had passed quite a few guys but none in my age group and I now had one in my sights. He obviously had a different thought as he put the hammer down and put some serious time into me. I think he was around 600m in front and I just couldn’t close the gap.

I ran through the first 14k in 59:59, which was bang on target, my running felt great and I wasn’t concerned that 3h marathon pace was too quick. I was confident and just kept my stride rate up. It really started to heat up on the westward stretch and we were now running into a solid headwind.

Throughout the 2nd lap I just wasn’t gaining that much time on my competition and started to think they must want it more. Then I thought no way! I want this more and I was definitely on the hunt. Coming down to the turn around near the start finish area I had significantly closed the gap on the only person I knew in my age group.

He walked through an aid station heading out of the turn around and I thought that’s it I have you now! It took me another 3k or so to catch and pass him but he tucked in and stayed with me for a couple of k’s. I just kept really focused on running solidly and I could hear his breathing pattern increase, then nothing…

I am not sure when I passed all the guys in my age group but I think it was all within the last 12k. It was then I started to do the math on my finishing time and since I didn’t start my watch from the swim, I just turned it over to real time and knew to go under 9 hours I had to be in before 3:15pm.

I knew this was going to hurt but my thoughts turned to “its only 30mins of running left, how many long training runs have you done finishing the last 30min HARD?” I can do this and I mentally hit my staples “Easy Button” and went for it.

In actuality it didn’t hurt that much, I was so focused and running down that finish chute knowing I had ticked off some goals felt great. I just didn’t know if I had won or not until I heard the words from race commentator Pete Murray. It was then I went NUTS!!!

Obviously I have some people to thank. Firstly my wife and 2nd female across the line Charlotte Paul, I would not be the athlete or person I am without her. She sets a pretty high bar to follow and I love her for that.

Then there’s ironguides, the coaching and lifestyle facilitation company I am a part of. The word is getting out that our coaching philosophy “The Method” is second to none and we are powering the new generation of champions ™. A special thanks to Coach Vinnie for helping me achieve this result.

Thanks also go out to Bernard from Scody, Charlottes and my race kit not only made us look great but they did everything you want a race kit to do.  Nicole and Craig from Aqua shop and Guy from Blue Seventy. If you’re racing in Australia and want to start the race with your wetsuit on perfectly, Nicole and Craig work tirelessly to ensure this for all athletes.

Sam from 3T, those Ventus bars rock, super comfy all day, Sheridan from Oakley, Mike and the two Chris’s at Nike, Macy and the crew at Timex, John from High5, Shane, Tiff and Rod from Tri Travel, Mathew from BioCeuticals, Dallas and Kim at IMG and everyone that sent Charlotte and I well wishes before the race.

The road is now set for Kona 09 and the chance to hold a wooden bowl above high above my head.

Cheers
Kristian