COACH CYNDEE

Some races go great and some don't go as planned.  You read my recap from my Ironman where I had a PR now hear another perspective.  Iron Man South Africa – Race Recap by Michael Ratner Iron Man South Africa has been a “bucket list” race for me since South Africa became part of the Iron Man race circuit nine years ago. Since completing Iron Man Texas in May last year and feeling great about my accomplishment and time, I thought the timing was perfect to sign up for the IM SA in April this year. Johannesburg South Africa is a 17-hour flight from DC and DC is 5 hours from Vegas, so do the math…many hours on a plane!! IM SA has always been staged in Port Elizabeth on the Eastern coast of South Africa so when we arrived in Johannesburg we weren’t done traveling yet; we still had a 1-½ hour flight down to PE. We arrived a few days before the race to acclimate somewhat and to swim, ride and run parts of the course. We also had to register, to check our bi

At the bike drop off the day before the race I originally got into triathlons for the competition and to stay healthy and fit.  I now find myself racing in some really great places and it has become such a great adventure. I recently went to Port Elizabeth, South Africa to compete in the Ironman.  It was a long way to travel but it was the race of a lifetime.  I got to experience racing in such a beautiful part of the world and racing amongst people from all over the world.  I finished in 11hours and 18 minutes, which placed me 7 th in my age group.  That was the best time for me in any of the 6 other Ironman events I have raced. It was also the highest placing I have had.  Just as a frame of reference my worst time in an Ironman was at Ironman St. George with an overall time of 13:41 and my previous best time was in Texas with an overall time of 11:41.  South Africa was a great day for me.  This was the first time I have raced in a full Ironman that was an oce