Ironman 70.3 Tangier Morocco 2024
October 27th, 2024
Tangier, Morocco
Half Ironman
Tangier: The Door to Africa, a place for anniversaries and a race.
Having explored the southernmost tip of Africa in Cape Agulhas, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans converge, Candice and I were thrilled to celebrate our anniversary in Tangier, the "Door to Africa," where the Atlantic and Mediterranean meet. This trip would also mark the next step in the Empower 5 Challenge.
Tangier, has a rich history as a crossroads of civilizations. Its strategic location has made it a coveted port city for centuries, attracting Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and Europeans. Tangier's blend of Moorish and European influences is evident in its architecture, cuisine, and culture. The city's medina, with its labyrinthine alleys and vibrant souks, offers a glimpse into Morocco's past.
Base camp was literally across the road from the start of the race and transition, making it the perfect location for us to explore the city, prepare for the race, and here the eternal life of Tangier which only started to pick up at 8pm (if you’ve been you will know)!
Anniversary adventures
Although we were here to race due to my good planning we managed to do quite a bit of touristy stuff and celebrate our anniversary. We acted like proper tourists riding camels on the beach in the sunset having street dinners with the locals, and hanging out at the spot where the two oceans met.
Now so many highlights and not enough space in this blog to put it all but the food walking tour was amazing, taken by our tour guide off the beaten track to meet her family and eat with them see the weekly market with amazing produce and trying all the different tastes spices drinks sweets that Tangier has to offer.
On the actual day of our anniversary we headed up to a city called Chefchaouen, often referred to as the "Blue Pearl of Morocco," is a picturesque town nestled in the Rif Mountains. Founded in 1471 by Moulay Ali Ben Rachid, it served as a strategic fortress to defend against Portuguese invaders. Over time, the town grew into a refuge for Moors and Jews expelled from Spain during the Reconquista.
The town's distinctive blue hue is believed to have several origins, including repelling mosquitoes and symbolizing heaven. The medina, with its winding streets and vibrant blue-washed buildings, is a visual delight. Chefchaouen's rich history, stunning architecture, and serene atmosphere, and we loved it. That evening, we indulged in a culinary adventure at one of Tangier's newest fine-dining establishments. The food was exquisite, a true feast for the senses. However in Morocco you can still smoke where you like, yuck!
Plenty of shopping and wondering the streets made for fun adventures and great memories.
Pre-race warm ups
There was little time to do any real race warmups, so a course run and a windy and choppy introduction to the straight of Gibraltor was called for. And a few runs with my support crew! The bike testing and first part of the course reckie came in handy as I found myself gliding across three lanes of traffic as I had not tightened my handle bars when assembling my bike, I felt it best after that to recheck everything and get my bike racked the night before.
A later cold start
Torn between using my wetsuit or skin suit, it was the freezing wind in the morning that convinced me to race in my wetsuit. What I found phenomenal was the honesty of the athletes in the seeding pens – everyone went in and waited patiently and excitedly. In the warm up I had done on the course there was some waves and current, and as the swim progressed there it was again making for some interesting swimming technique to avoid swallowing all the sea water again.
As the sun rose it was directly behind the turning buoys at the end of the swim course, and led to a rather comical moment as swimmers suddenly scattered in all directions. Luckily I was having fun and turned at the far point of the course with great ease. The homeward stretch was a matter of focusing on keeping my technique and actually picking up cadence. A good swim by all accounts – just a lot to still do to get closer to 30minutes.
Swim time: 32min13sec
LONG Transition
The aftermath of the rain created challenging conditions. The beach was hard-packed sand, and the makeshift bridge of pallets added an unexpected obstacle course to reach the transition 500m away. Navigating this slippery terrain was a delicate balance between speed and caution. The flooded transition area further complicated matters, forcing me to don socks and shoes and run to collect my steed (which by the by is the same old steed as my previous three races and will join me at my final race - a little to early to retire it). As I trudged through the waterlogged transition zone, I couldn't help but feel that my transition time had taken a significant hit.
Transition 1 time: 4min13sec
A ride of 4 sections
The race unfolded in four distinct sections: the flat town section, the challenging uphill and downhill, the out-and-back, and the final uphill climb. Despite not having fully reconnoitered the course, I was confident in my ability to adapt to the terrain. The early morning conditions were damp, with the roads still wet from the previous night's rain. The town section was a quick and flat, offering a glimpse of the beautiful coastal scenery.
The uphill section was a mental test. The steep descent that followed was both exhilarating and terrifying, especially on the wet roads. As I reached the Atlantic Ocean, I transitioned into the rolling hills of the out-and-back section. Feeling strong and energized, I pushed the pace, determined to make up some time.
The final uphill climb proved to be a true test of endurance. A fellow competitor, a swift Frenchman, offered some unsolicited advice about my gear choice, a reminder of the unexpected challenges that can arise during a race. The downhill into town was a welcome relief, and I was eager to tackle the run course
Bike Time: 2hr 47min
Zippy Transition
I managed to hop skip and dance over all the drying puddles in transition and had a fantastic second transition, posting one of my fastest transitions – and before I knew it I was out on the run.
Transition 2 time: 1min43sec
The Run: Flat and Furious
I had an unusual approach to pacing this race. Instead of relying on my watch, I decided to use the other runners as my gauge. This strategy worked surprisingly well for the first two laps, as I found myself keeping pace with some younger, faster athletes. However, the third lap proved to be a turning point. I hit a wall and resorted to walking at an aid station. This brief respite rejuvenated me, but as I was to find out took up a lot of precious time. Slowly I was able to pick up the pace again for the final stretch. Crossing the finish line, I was stunned to see a time of 5 hours and 42 seconds. While it was a disappointing result, the experience was invaluable.
Run time: 1hr34min
Overall time: 5hr00min42
A Weekend to remember
So a massive Thank you to my number one supporter,  who will also be completing all five of Africa’s 70.3 Ironman events this year. Happy 16th Anniversary my love,  here is to many more anniversaries and races together!
I had the chance to chat with a seasoned Canadian athlete who has raced extensively around the world, particularly in Europe. He shared an interesting insight: most races typically have around 2,500 participants, with only 500 being truly competitive. The remaining 2,000 are often a mix of mediocre athletes and first-timers. While this Tangier race was smaller, with just over 500 athletes, all 500 showed up here. Finishing 21st in such a field was a testament to the tough competition, and I learned valuable lessons from the experience. So a big thank you to my other support, my family (and especially my mother-in-law Sue) for looking after the kids. To Mike my coach onwards and upwards, shits working! And to Danielle whom constantly fixes the stretching I dont do!
The Road Ahead
With Tangier tamed, the focus shifts to Mossel Bay. With only 3 weeks between now and the final challenge for 2024, I am excited to finish off strong, I feel I owe Mossel Bay a better performance than last years and look forward to a) knowing the course now b) having completed a year of training, MUCH stronger and fitter. Bring on Number 5!
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