I'm Gonna do the Ironman

Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman The bonkers race, all over the globe, the thousands training, The Periodisation, the 10% increase, the coaching, the fueling Whether or not you’re moving its snowing or it’s raining. The 4am get up, I’m in training. The pick up, The kit, The pack, the club, the inspiration Representing your nation Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman The travel, the bike bag, the big list to pack The id, the waiver, or niggle in the back I’m feeling tired cos of taper, The stress of the airport, the baggage reclaim, finding me bike, diagnosing the foreign train Where’s the hotel, the expo, the finish line clock I Imagine the bliss I’ve gotta get there I spent 30 weeks training for this The water,the bike course, the run route the start I am surrounded by physical specimens, they all look the part Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman The bravado, the fear, the pre race Brief A breakfast with Paula Newby Fraser A dream beyond belief The clank of the scaffold, the tarpaulin flap, the sound check the wind, the smells, the tastes…. I’m drinking coffee in Klagenfurt, Freezing ice cream in Frankfurt Pasta in Lanzarote in the Heat or in the cold of Haugusund a cinnamon cake makes me repleat The pre race food, decrease fibre, increase carb The drop in caffeine, im being too fickle Don’t eat too much, don’t eat to little Check your bike in, check your bags in, white blue and red Don’t mix them up their content being critical, this is doin me head Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman Settling to doze, it’s 9 at night The race is 10 hours off, sleep tight I awake at 3, feel for my drink, Then dress, go to the loo and check my kit Down to breakfast to watch the Farce Iron warriors, their rigid habits, does it matter The Fueling dance Bananas, honey, cereal, white bread Yoghurt or Juice; not too much The caffeine buzz to brighen the head. Each to their own, what’s your daily bread. I Queue for a bus, am I booked on it or walk tired through the streets white street bag and wetsuit, getting ready to don it I am on my way no turning back An inspirational track Zoning out listening to music But I feel my heart starting to beat Walking among the throngs in the dark dark street Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman Approaching transition I hear the PA The noise of the athletes mumbling away The headtorches at 5.30 am The sound of bike tyres being pumped and a groggy yawn In the hope that the pressure will speed you along The queues for the toilet, final bike check, loading it with nutrition, Ah what the heck I help an athlete do his zip, easy with so many acts of good will. Let’s get my wetsuit on, in the morning chill I work to stop chafing by putting on neck glide, I see the athlete I helped We look at each other smile, the exhilaration we cannot hide Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman So to the start and we are packed together 1000s of us like penguins but not standing on ice, between the toes just the feeling of sand or wet grass, nice The PA, the 10s of thousands of spectators, wow what a roar The national anthem Our hearts in our chests or even our mouths, what more can you ask for. 7am, The siren goes and we run, run, as fast as we can like the race is 17seconds not 17 hours I feel the water reach to my waste, dive in I’m away… at last just my thoughts, the bar fight and my haste. Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman The rhythm of swim, the sighting, the pace The pleasure of feeling at one in your space The Australian exit, then back in without time to thaw I don’t want it to end, round again once more As the swim comes to an end, The distant cheer The crowd comes into muffled swimcapped ear And its up on my feet, to transition To check on the weather, what do we have here? The heat of the canaries, the rain and lightening of Norway or the Gales in Wales Whatever it is…. Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman So onto the bike and into a spin Athletes fall off, burst tyres as I try to settle in The roads are a mix of asphalt, cobbles, tramlines Hills, some with heat and some with wet slippy spills The rear wheel slips as you Hit the hill at 100 miles The sight of a country You’ve never been in, the marshalls the drafters, the penalty bin. Or the Wrestlers in Bolton, cheering you on, for an hour my face is one big grin. Then I feel a bee sting on my leg As we get to the end I feel sweat drip from inside my helmet and onto my lip The legs are tired; I get to the end and drop off the bike, helped by the ironman crew, in a maze , The scaffolding we call T2 Then the duck waddle starts Just trying not to think of the marathon ahead. What goes? A chance to run on the route with the pros. Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman On the run what’s your habit? Run walk or run run or just eat crisps Energy gels with salt or carb or caffeine Or oranges, flat coke or Sandwiches by Greggs Whether heat or rain, the supporters remain They’re the real stalwarts, the hard ones There for you to sustain The second half of the run is tough enough, The cage fight, kept light by the kids who high five I am running out of energy But the dream’s alive. Treadwatering sea turtles Kona, big island, where the spirits thrive. Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman To the last mile, for some its dark again it’s getting late right? Remember the cut off 12 midnight The finish shute Red carpet, the shout “you are an ironman’ The medal the food tent the t-shirt The cheers and excitement The realisation of hurt, the soreness the worn out shoe Wondering did I bite off more than I can chew. Out to support the people still racing The Shouts of elation and Fireworks and family embracing. So what next, there’s always next year It’s never complete, not a race, it’s a way of life Another race, another Ironman, another Ironwoman Ironman Ironman I’m gonna do the Ironman