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The race is unsupported so athletes bring their own support crew. The support crew provide nutrition throughout the race and are required to accompany their athletes up the final mountain climb due to the inherent dangers of being highly fatigued on a mountain. Of the 280 starters, the first 160 are allowed (weather permitting) to climb the mountain and receive the coveted black Norseman t-shirt. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePreparation\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI arrived in Eidfjord on Wednesday 31\u003csup\u003est\u003c/sup\u003e July , 3 days before the race. Following two visits to the mechanic, two social swims, an easy 5k social run the day before, a briefing, a kit check, registration and many pancakes and hot drinks. I was as ready as I’d ever be. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI awoke to my 2am alarm, my two support team rising with me and we arrived without incident into Eidfjord. We racked the bike and I was on the boat for 3.40 ready for a 4am departure, surrounded by nervous and excited athletes I couldn’t sit still and was pleased when they announced they had started to spray the acclimatisation cold water on board. I pulled on my booties, gloves and thermal hat and received my cold shower, a balmy 15 degrees this year. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eJumping off a car ferry\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd so it began, we were asked to line up at the edge of the boat. I was one of the first and holding onto my goggles I jumped. Relieved that goggles and hat were still attached I swam slowly to the start, which must have been 400metres away. Realising as I did so that I had brought my old ‘steamy’ goggles and that I was not going to be able to see a whole lot during the swim. Anyway banishing this from my mind, I lined up behind the kayaks and waited for the rest of the competitors to join, somewhat regretting my choice to be one of the first off in these colder than usual IM water temperatures.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTen or so minutes later, I hear a roar from the bank, my husband shouting good luck ‘Go Sarah, go mummy’, shortly followed by a honk from the ferry’s horn. We were off. With no buoys to follow I swam vaguely towards the shore, hitting fellow swimmers far more frequently than usual in this distance swim (possibly a result of the steamed up goggles). Despite this I actually enjoyed myself, the swim was almost totally flat, with mountains rising around the waters edge, and some of the freshest I have swum in. This sense of enjoyment ended however when I finally exited and found I had swam almost 1km further than the 3.8k it was supposed to be, in a time of 1hr 20. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the luxuries of this event is the support crew- I arrived to my friend Charlotte ready to help me change and dry with a warm mocha in hand. The change itself was complicated by my insistence on a full outfit change, not wanting to be cold I had decided to swim in a costume and then change into my tri gear. This was not easy, and turned out to be completely unnecessary as I was definitely not cold. An added unanticipated complication, whilst trying to peel on a tight over-the-head top onto a wet body was trying to find suitable responses to my 3 year old shouting from the side-lines…. ‘Mummy, mummy, mummy did you have a nice swim?’. ‘Mummy, mummy, mummy they played ghost busters before you arrived’ ‘mummy, mummy, mummy that helmet looks like your helmet’. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/news/nm3.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u00226cbd8sx2gga6\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eOn to the bike\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd then I was onto my bike and started to ride… 5 or so k of flat and then we hit the ascent, the scenery was stunning, it was dry and sunny and I was surrounded by other riders. The route was mainly the road I had descended in the car 3 days earlier but with a few diversions to the ‘old mountain road’ which made me pleased I had chosen a road and not a TT bike. After two stops to pick up my dropped gloves which I had put on in case I was cold, but most definitely wasn’t, I started to get into the rhythm. The ride took us through the long mountain tunnels, usually closed to bikes, and supplied us with rugged mountain views and waterfalls. The climb continued for 40k and for 1200metres of ascent and after a quick refuel stop with my support I finally decided that I needed those gloves after all and was pleased to put them on for my descent into the town of Geilo. I had spent a sleepless night 3 nights previously worried about how I would handle this ENORMOUS climb, but in the end, it had been a magnificent experience. I was also beginning to realise I was having a very lucky Norseman experience. I had last minute panic bought a merino wool baselayer to go under my winter jacket. Neither of these were needed. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the town of Geilo I knew there were 4 climbs over the next 90k. Before climb 1 I was greeted with a cold latte and after this felt much better. I then settled into each of the climbs, passing riders as I did exchanging a few words along the lines of \u0027I\u0027ll see you on the way down\u0027 and waving as they sailed passed me on the descent. However I felt strong and my support team told me I was doing well, and continued to supply me with food, drink and suncream. I was definiely enjoying myself. The support on the road was fantastic. There were Norgesflaggs being waved by locals sat on deckchairs shouting ‘hiya hiya’ as we passed, cars playing music, hikers cheering and of course each competitors support crew shouting ‘you got this’. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI had read the final climb would be the hardest. It was. It was hot, it was steep and it felt long. Fatigue began to set in, but I was still passing people, and I knew I wasn’t suffering as much as some of them. I carried on peddling and was told by my support I was nearly at the top and they’d have a coffee waiting for me….sadly we mistimed this and I passed the flags saying ‘no support after this point’… a few seconds later they passed me saying ‘we cant help you any more’...\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd then came the 30k of descent. It was fast, faster for others than myself, but still fast. Some hairpins, some long sections of road where you could hit max speed, but some very steep, and I was pleased for my bike upgrade to disc brakes. I took this opportunity to refuel and ensured not to over do it, especially as my mind started to wonder about the run and whether my legs would work. I had stood for a bit during the bike and my quads were definitely feeling it. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe run\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI was greeted by my amazing support in T2 with iced coffee, sun cream and coke. On my exit, and for the first time during the race I was told my position -\u0026nbsp;131. So I had 29 places to play with for that black t-shirt. And more importantly, my legs worked. The first 25K of this race is fairly flat along a paved road and I was pleased to find I was able to keep up a reasonable pace. As I passed an Australian he uttered number 131 and explained that he was counting backwards to 160, I decided not to use this method and to keep my head in my own race.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith regular fuel and cold water showers from my support team helping me through the warmer than ideal conditions, I continued to feel reasonably comfortable, and more importantly could begin to fantasise about going up the mountain, as I realised I might actually make it. In this manner I ran myself to the bottom of Zombie hill. The significance of this is that I was given my headphones and my support runner Hussain could join me. I could finally listen to music and this really buoyed my spirits. I also had food and drink whenever I wanted it with Hussain carrying all my supplies.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/news/nm2.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022h5058increoe\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eThe final climb\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo here it was that I started the 1600m climb, the gradient of ascent made clear by the strong smell of clutch in the air, and the fact that no one I could see was running. So this was how we attacked it, at a march. We passed lots of competitors this way, and eventually a plateau appeared allowing me to jog into 37k and the ‘bottom of the mountain’. Here I was joined by my second support Charlotte, who provided my trail running shoes (and put them on me), my backpack with all the safety kit, and a few more chocolate raisins.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a quick kit check by the marshal we were okayed to start the ascent of Gaustatoppen - and was given my race position - 90. I had managed to run/march past 41 people. However, the race was by no way over. This climb demonstrated what Norwegian mountains have to offer, we set off in sunshine. But by half way up it was very very wet, it was windy, it was cold. The path was hard going and very rocky, and marked by painted T’s on rocks.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was only 5k, but was everything that I had expected the Norseman could throw at me. As freezing rain was hitting me in the face and visibility had fallen to a few metres I turned to Hussain and uttered words that sum up this event ‘this race is insane’. But with one foot in front of the other we carried on and eventually we saw the entrance to the cable car station (an old cold war NATO broadcasting base), which signalled the finish line. We crossed the line in 14hours 42 minutes and 39 seconds.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat a race. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarah\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Finishing position: \u003c/strong\u003e90th overall and 16th woman\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/news/nm1jpg.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022h5058increoe\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","HasCommentsThread":true,"SeoTags":{"OpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"og:title","Name":"The Norseman Triathlon 2024"},{"ID":"og:type","Name":"website"},{"ID":"og:url","Name":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements/The+Norseman+Triathlon+2024"},{"ID":"og:description","Name":" Club member Sarah Timmis tackles the Norseman - considered to be the ultimate triathlon on the planet."},{"ID":"og:image","Name":"https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/news/nm4.jpg"}],"NonOpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"description","Name":" Club member Sarah Timmis tackles the Norseman - considered to be the ultimate triathlon on the planet."}]},"PageURL":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements/The+Norseman+Triathlon+2024","Comments":[{"ID":585,"Index":0,"User":{"ID":null,"Name":null,"CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":false},"ImageUrl":null,"Comment":null,"CreationTime":"Tuesday, 20 August 2024 18:28","IsEdited":false,"EditTime":null,"InReplyTo":{"ID":null,"Name":null,"CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":false},"IsDeleted":true,"DeleteReason":"O","DeletedBy":{"ID":344,"Name":"John Ritchie","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"LikeCount":0,"LikesDescription":"","Likes":[],"LikedByMe":false,"HasBeenRead":false,"Replies":[],"CanEdit":false,"CanModerate":false,"CanReply":false,"CanMessageMe":false},{"ID":586,"Index":0,"User":{"ID":344,"Name":"John Ritchie","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"ImageUrl":"https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Mugshots/jritchie.jpeg","Comment":"Epic achievement ??????","CreationTime":"Tuesday, 20 August 2024 18:29","IsEdited":false,"EditTime":null,"InReplyTo":{"ID":null,"Name":null,"CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":false},"IsDeleted":false,"DeleteReason":null,"DeletedBy":{"ID":null,"Name":null,"CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":false},"LikeCount":0,"LikesDescription":"","Likes":[],"LikedByMe":false,"HasBeenRead":false,"Replies":[],"CanEdit":false,"CanModerate":false,"CanReply":false,"CanMessageMe":false},{"ID":587,"Index":0,"User":{"ID":10,"Name":"Alun Duncan-Jones","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"ImageUrl":"https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Mugshots/aduncan-jones.jpg","Comment":"More than insane - amazingly well done Sarah. ","CreationTime":"Tuesday, 20 August 2024 19:37","IsEdited":false,"EditTime":null,"InReplyTo":{"ID":null,"Name":null,"CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":false},"IsDeleted":false,"DeleteReason":null,"DeletedBy":{"ID":null,"Name":null,"CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":false},"LikeCount":0,"LikesDescription":"","Likes":[],"LikedByMe":false,"HasBeenRead":false,"Replies":[],"CanEdit":false,"CanModerate":false,"CanReply":false,"CanMessageMe":false},{"ID":588,"Index":0,"User":{"ID":7,"Name":"Jon Hunt","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"ImageUrl":"https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Mugshots/JonHunt.png","Comment":"Wow!","CreationTime":"Wednesday, 21 August 2024 13:53","IsEdited":false,"EditTime":null,"InReplyTo":{"ID":null,"Name":null,"CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":false},"IsDeleted":false,"DeleteReason":null,"DeletedBy":{"ID":null,"Name":null,"CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":false},"LikeCount":0,"LikesDescription":"","Likes":[],"LikedByMe":false,"HasBeenRead":false,"Replies":[],"CanEdit":false,"CanModerate":false,"CanReply":false,"CanMessageMe":false}],"UpdatedComments":[],"LastViewTime":null,"CanEdit":false,"CanPublish":false,"CanComment":false,"CanReadComments":true,"CanModerateComments":false}
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