Interview – Debi Wess
First of all Debi I would like to say a big congratulations on having such a great day out at Ironman Melbourne and taking out your age group (60-65 years old) on the day and gaining your selection for the World Championships in Kona, Hawaii in October! it must be a dream come true for you?
Thanks Toby! Ironman Melbourne was really one of those rare days where everything seemed to fall into place and honestly I was not expecting the outcome that I had. It really has been a dream of mine for the last 10 years to qualify for Kona. This was my 6th Ironman. This was the kind of dream/result that seemed very unattainable until Melbourne. I am over the moon! It seems ageing does indeed have its advantages!
How did you race unfold for you on the day?
After experiencing goggle challenges on the swim, I had an average swim time. On the bike, I wanted to break 7 hours. I kept a consistent pace which didn’t result in the goal time I wanted but I managed to pass 2 women in my age group and the seed was planted that I just may win my age group. This really didn’t seem a reality until halfway through the run when an announcer said I was winning, although I was quite skeptical still at the time. I kept my pace on the run and it wasn’t until I heard Mike Reilly say “You won your age group, you are an Ironman Champion” that I really, really got it-I had won.. I took a nasty spill at the very end of the run, which threw me a bit for a loop but nothing was gonna stop me at that point! I will say the things that made my race were: Following my race plan, getting nutrition right. These two things were what made it a successful day for me..that and good weather, calm waters and little wind!
I don’t think i will forget the image of you getting wheeled into the medical tent after the race after i had just finished getting changed and seeing you with bloody hands and knee’s from a fall and then the first thing you said to me after seeing me was “I did it Toby, I won my age group I’m going to Kona” sensational!
I was so overwhelmed at that point, I could not comprehend anything except Hey there is Toby-a friend. I am going to Kona!! Obviously the medical staff was not that excited for me as I had a gaping wound on my hand which needed stiches-ha! You looked a bit pale so I was kinda worried about you!
You travelled to Australia with your husband Hartley (65-69) and both competed in Melbourne. What was a typical weeks training for you in the 10 week’s you were here?
Wow, well in general we had our long bikes (up to 6.5 hours, we did do one 180k bike near the end-your awesome suggestion of a ride down the coast-we loved it!), long runs on Sunday, and followed by shorter runs in the evening. We rode 5 days a week, although less time, always followed by short runs off the bike. We also did many 2 workouts a day, one in the AM, much shorter one in the PM. It was a new way for us to train. All the “shorter workouts” on the bike and running added up to more bike/run miles than we have done in the past leading up to IM races. I loved it! My body was not so broken down and for us “older athletes” this was magic coming into race day..
Did you approach your training differently this time in the lead up to your race in comparison to previous Ironman event’s?
As I mentioned yes, the training was different. Also we stuck to a pretty healthy diet and my nutrition plan was very different this time, using Shotz gels and electrolytes which saved me on race day. But I didn’t do anything on race day that I hadn’t practiced in training. Very little solid food consumption in training, as I can’t stomach solids for the most part in IM races. The electrolytes I consumed were WAY more than I have in the past also, which kept me hydrated in a way that just worked come race day.
You were coming in for maintenance work at the SportsMyo clinic while you were in the lead up to your race, is this something similar to what you would normally do back home or something new? What do you think the main benefits are for an older athlete to get this type of regular work?
Oh my gosh, getting regular body work is key, especially for us “other athletes”. I have been getting regular massage before Ironman races for a few years now, knowing the benefits of keeping my muscles on track is probably as important as the training itself. The body work I received at your clinic by you, seemed much more specialised and focused mainly on the areas of my body where the muscles were being mostly affected. This variable virtually kept me injury free and I have you Toby to thank for this!! I was not as sore during training or the race.
What will the plans be now that you have qualified for the big one in October?
Uh, well I am still on the “rest, eat anything you want” training plan! No really, I just got back to America and getting my feet on the ground here and acclimating to the time change and elevation here (we live in a place that is 1500 meters high). In 10 weeks we have lost all our high altitude accommodating red blood cells and need to build them back up again. I will start training lightly next week; probably start the serious training in June. I have a 2 week trip planned in Hawaii in June so a second trip to Hawaii in October is icing on the cake. ☺ I wasn’t planning a 2nd Ironman this year so I need to rest and gear up mentally and emotionally to get back on the horse, so to speak. I would only do this if it was Kona though, that’s for sure!
Sounds great! i look forward to following you on the online tracker come race day! Thanks for taking the time out to have a quick chat about your time in Australia and enjoy your time catching up with family and friends back home. Congratulations on a very inspiring performance out there!
Thanks Toby! You and all my Australian friends have been such a huge part of my success. Your work with my physical well-being has only added to my progress as an athlete. Thank you!!!
For those of you wanting to follow update’s on Debi Wess’s progress feel free to follow along with her blog over at www.swtrigal.blogspot.com.au