IRONMAN 70.3 Poreč – Race Report

Ironman and triathlon have become very popular with the general public over the past year.

I will be honest: the Ironman brand has been my dream since the start of my triathlon journey. After all, every athlete wants to hear the words “You are an Ironman” at least once in their life. At first I focused on local races, which are much more affordable than the Ironman brand and are also a perfect way to gather racing experience. Ironman 70.3 Poreč was already my second half Ironman, and about 3 weeks after the race I have to say it was a great ride that I enjoyed a lot. The right setup and hours of training are what make it possible to enjoy a challenge like this.

As usual, we arrived a few days before the race. In countries where the climate is very different from ours, I recommend arriving at least a week before the start. This was my first Ironman 70.3 in a coastal location. The whole environment and the sea won me over right away. Registration was hassle-free as always, and the atmosphere in the Ironman village was very pleasant and full of great energy. In total, 1,800 participants were registered, and for about 630 of them it was their first time. We spent the days before the race on active recovery. Something that always helps me personally is getting to know the water I will be swimming in. Since it was my sea premiere, I had a natural respect for it. I can say that swimming in the sea is in many ways better than swimming in a lake. What also could not be missing were short runs in low heart rate zones. An inseparable part of good preparation is certainly quality food. Carbohydrate-rich meals (pasta, rice, …) are key. You also need to pay great attention to quality sleep. If you stick to all of this, you give yourself a good chance of a quality race day.

As is usual at Ironman races, bikes and other gear are handed over to the transition area the day before the race. It is very practical, because on race morning you no longer have to deal with it.

Race Day

On race morning I woke up at exactly five o’clock to the alarm. I put down breakfast and a Red Bull. I was ready to go. First I went to check all my things in the transition area. I topped up the fluids on the bike, checked its technical condition and whether it had rained into the bags overnight. After the check we moved to the start area, where I put on my wetsuit. The warm-up swim was wild but, as always, refreshing.

Into the water

From experience I can say that when choosing a start corridor, you need to be pragmatic and ask yourself what time you can swim 1,900 meters in. I know my abilities, so I chose the corridor that reflects them. The atmosphere before the start is always great. The announcer motivates the athletes, and before you know it you are in the water. The sea swim went perfectly, and I was out of the water within 40 minutes.

My beloved bike

I flew through the transition exactly as I had imagined. I went straight to my things and then ran to the bike. The first 25 km or so had quite a lot of climbing, and the ride was more technical, through villages that brought us to the main bike course. For more than 50 km we rode on a closed highway. A big advantage was the quality of the road and the fast descents, where you could go over 50 km/h. There were 3 aid stations in total, so there was more than enough water and sports drink. I appreciate the nice branded bottles, which make a good souvenir.

The big finale: the run

After a fast bike, it was time to head out on the half marathon. The run was situated almost entirely along the coast. I would not have said it could be so sunny in October in Croatia. So at almost every aid station I cooled off with plain water. The run went according to plan, and a well-set nutrition plan helped me get through the half marathon without trouble. Of course, I could feel my legs. The run was two laps, so it was easy to break up in my head.

All in to the finish

The finishing straight and the last 50 meters were filled with an incredible atmosphere. It was one of those finishing straights I will not forget. Fans and music are sure to put a big smile on your face after such a hard day. And you will appreciate that smile when the photos from the finish line arrive. I did not win, but I felt like a winner. The first thing I did was run to look for my biggest supporter, my girlfriend (https://www.instagram.com/tinsblack/), who supported me faithfully along the whole course. She was also my personal photographer. As always, the emotions at the finish were very strong. It was time for a well-deserved rest.

Ironman and the whole atmosphere are hard to put into words. It is something you really have to experience in life. A few days after the race we started looking for the next Ironman for 2025. What I can say is that Ironman 70.3 Poreč is a race I will definitely be happy to return to in the future.

author: Roland Čech