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Wing
Commander Colin Clarke in action.
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Photo
by Trina Sustersic/ Verismile
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than 1750 triathletes took to the streets of Kailua-Kona in Hawaii
recently for the World Ironman Triathlon Championship but only
1567 would make it to the finish line.
One of those to finish was 50-year-old Wing Commander Colin Clarke,
who came in 852nd and 22nd in his age group.
WGCDR Clarke swam the 3.8km in 1hr 09min 17sec, about two minutes
quicker than he estimated, then changed transition arrangements,
which included a 500m run to the change area, that resulted in
a six-minute transition.
He cycled the 180km in 5hr 44min 19sec, although the famed trade
crosswinds did not eventuate, replaced by a headwind for most
of the return leg.
That and the unrelenting heat and undulations made for a tough
cycle leg, which he completed at his pre-race estimated time.
A five-minute transition, where cycle gear was swapped for running
equipment and liberal doses of sun cream, and it was out on the
42km marathon.
The first 15km down and back the famed Alii Drive was in blazing
heat with no cloud cover or breeze. Reflected road temperatures
reached beyond the 100°C mark.
WGCDR Clarke noted during the race that the older categories dropped
off the pace markedly and he attributed that to the heat sapping
the veterans’ strength.
The heat and going into the race slightly under prepared with
his running, because of a nagging leg injury, caught up with him
and 4hr 21min 18sec later he crossed the finish chute in total
time of 11hr 25min 43sec to be forever known as a Hawaiian Ironman
finisher.
“After trying all sorts of sports with moderate success to
be able to represent your country at world-championship level
at 50 and to finish in the top 25 per cent and be the second Australian
in your category in the world’s toughest race was very humbling,”
he said.
In addition to receiving the traditional finishers’ medal
all finishers were awarded a replica of the original Ironman finishers’
statue in recognition of their participation in the 25th anniversary
race.
Normally after an Ironman WGCDR Clarke has a month off training
but with the Australian summer season starting he will now go
into a light month just to keep the fitness levels ticking over
before starting to build up for the summer races and his fifth
Australian Ironman at Forster-Tuncurry in April.
“After that milestone it is a 12-month sabbatical from Ironman.
I owe it to my wife to take her on a holiday without racing or
training.”
