Busselton 2006 Ironman Report
After 65 massages in six days, and my first decent wage as a masseur, I returned on a natural high whilst suffering exhaustion. I worked in the pre race Ironman massage tent on Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning, and post race on Monday morning. I had permission from the race organisers to operate from the beach, as I do at Rockingham, when I wasn't working in the massage tent. So I also worked the beach on Saturday afternoon, on Sunday morning on race day, Monday in the afternoon and on Tuesday and Wednesday for anyone staying around for a few days.
One of the pre race massages was for Sara Gross from Canada. She had previously had a 3rd and 5th placing. I asked how we might improve on that, and she said her problem leg was the run. I did some psoas stretches on the theory that if we could increase her stride length by one centimetre without costing any energy, she would save five or ten minutes in the marathon. Sarah came second in the ladies in 9 hours 15 minutes, just five minutes behind the winner, having started the marathon about 20 minutes behind. She came back to the massage tent the next day to thank me.
On the race day itself I worked the beach for the general public at the beach until around 1:30 and made my way over to watch the finish. Jason Shortis broke the course record with a time below 8:04. Only three times has 8 hours been broken, so this was a very special effort.
I then did my leg flushes on 24 athletes after the race, a new PB, but my table had been set up next to the open doorway and I was in full sun. No matter how much water I drank I could feel myself getting dehydrated, so this year I could not stay to the end as I was required back in the massage tent the next morning.
This year the masseurs were not invited to the awards night, but I attended the Volunteers Party on the Tuesday night where, following dehydration from my efforts after the race, the alcohol went straight to my head and I made a complete fool of myself. What I do remember is that Jason Shortis made the effort to attend the party and go round and have a chat to all of the volunteers. What a wonderful PR machine Jason is for the sport.
The work I did on Sara Gross gave me the idea for 2007 to target specific muscles for the pre race tune ups and to help athletes reach their specific goals and targets rather than just giving them a massage. I think my 2007 page speaks for itself in this regard.
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