Conquering the Half Ironman in Aix-en-Provence (Also my first Triathlon) 🏊🚲🏃

Here we go. It’s May 12th, 2019, in Aix-en-Provence, and my alarm clock blares at 4am. Despite a restless night, the anticipation fuels my energy. Two hours later, I find myself on the edge of Peyrolles Lake, 50km north of Aix-en-Provence. The water is a chilling 15°C, and it’s cold, windy, and still dark outside. The race begins, and as I dip my toe into the freezing water, fog clouds my swimming goggles. Swimming amidst a throng of competitors, I can’t help but question my sanity—what am I doing here?

Let me take a moment to explain the race and how it unfolded for me. The Half Ironman consists of three disciplines: a 1.9km swim, a 90km bike ride with 1200m of elevation gain, and a 21km run—a half marathon. I completed the race in 6 hours and 31 minutes, with splits of 52 minutes for swimming, 3 hours and 21 minutes for cycling, and 2 hours for running, plus the transitions.

The mind has a way of selectively remembering events. Despite the grueling start and the immense effort, my memory of this race is overwhelmingly positive. I would do it again in a heartbeat. While the morning was chilly, we were fortunate with the weather. The cycling route through Provence, with its challenging ascents and descents, was breathtaking. Riding into Aix-en-Provence, the streets were lined with enthusiastic supporters, and the final running segment through the historic city was unforgettable.

I’ve learned a lot from this experience and identified areas for improvement for next time. One key takeaway is that I genuinely enjoyed the race. Remarkably, I didn’t feel sore in the days following, likely due to the varied nature of the disciplines, unlike the aftermath of running marathons.

Swimming remains my weakest discipline—I finished in the bottom 10%. Improving my speed and technique, particularly in open water, is crucial. Despite the cold water, it became bearable after five minutes thanks to my wetsuit, but I need to acclimate better to such conditions as the initial shock disturbed my performance.

I also realized that stopping to fill my water bottle during the bike ride cost me valuable time. Next time, I’ll simply grab a new bottle at the stations. Additionally, I need to work on my transitions, especially the first one, as it significantly impacts overall time.

This race was an incredible experience, full of highs and challenges. I look forward to applying these lessons and pushing myself even further in the next Half Ironman.