Julie Dibens reflects
After giving her all in a third place Kona debut — which she led from mile 15 of the bike through mile 11 of the run — and missing a four-peat at the XTERRA World Championship at Maui by 72 seconds, Julie Dibens has decided to finish off her own end of season triple crown and give it a go at defending her 2009 Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater.
In a telephone conversation last week from her Boulder, Colorado home, the Great Britain star discussed the ups, downs and her future dreams in pursuit of the greatest long distance world titles on the triathlon planet.
Slowtwitch: How did your swim go at Kona? Was it surprising that Rachel Joyce was 1:35 faster?
Julie Dibens: I followed someone's feet 50 yards off line away from the buoys before I checked to see where I was. My fault. But it was pretty rough and ideally I'd like to see separate men's and women's pro swim starts.
ST: You started two minutes back of Rachel Joyce after the swim. When did you get the lead?
Julie: I passed Rachel Joyce not too long past the airport. I went by her pretty nicely.
ST: Compare your experience on the bike in Kona and Clearwater?
Julie: In Clearwater I wanted get away early and I pushed hard the first 25 miles, then settled into a sustainable pace. And it worked. In Kona I did not want to leave my race in the first 25 miles. I wanted to hold back and finish off the 180k ride strong. If I had one concern going into that race it was how I'd fare in the last hour of the bike. I was determined to make sure I left a little off my maximum early. And I think I did it. I started riding with a few guys to have a little company the first 20 miles and then I ended up by myself pretty much the rest of the time. A few guys passed me. I was trying to ride a sustainable effort. In the back of my mind I knew I'd be running…
ST: How much was wind a factor?
Julie: I thought it was pretty calm. I've been out in Kona a month training. It was not as hard — other than the point at which we turned up to ride to Hawaii (at Kawaihae). It was pretty windy there. I expected it to be more of a headwind on the way home. But the wind gods… [were smiling].
ST: Your 4:55 bike split was good, but Karin Thuerig set a new record of 4:48:20 and Natascha Badmann and Paula Newby Fraser have quite a few 4:50-4:52 splits. Did you set the correct pace?
Julie: I was think I so conscious of having to run the 26 whatever it is miles afterwards, I really didn’t want to bike too hard and leave nothing for the run. I knew it would get really ugly if I did that. Still I set myself up to have a chance to at least be in contention to win the race.
ST: How many long rides had you done before Kona?
Julie: Probably about 7-8 or them. A lot more than I had done before Abu Dhabi! [One] I went for a week with Crowie at the end of July and after I did Malibu Triathlon in September I went to Kona and trained in the heat and humidity. I think I was as ready as I could be. I would not say I overly enjoy heat and humidity. I think I was acclimatized, but maybe it was a bit too much. If I was to go back and do it again, I would not be out there quite as long.
ST: What led to your cramping and what might you do about it next time?
Julie: As I said in the post race press conference, I experienced a strange cramp in the first hour on the bike. That was pretty unusual for me. I have not experienced that. I think maybe in the last few days something strange happened. Maybe I had not taken enough salt and I over hydrated. There are things I have not understood and will have to try to figure out.
ST: How did your cramping affect your inclination to try Kona again?
Julie: I am definitely up for it. For me to cramp the first hour on the bike when I was not riding that hard is unusual. I do believe I can go better without cramping. I can go faster on the bike and the run both. It leaves me optimistic that I can go faster. But I still need to figure out why this happened. I do not think that is an easy thing but I will look at it very carefully.
ST: Do you believe you can do any better?
Julie: Overall, I definitely do not feel discouraged by it. If anything it encouraged me. I get on really well with both Rinny and Chrissie and I am happy for both of them. When I see them do it, it makes me believe I can do it as well. I know I'll never run as fast as Rinny or Chrissie but I might still be able to out swim and out bike them and run together and give them somebody to chase.
ST: At the toughest moments in training for Kona, did you have any stray thoughts wondering why you were there?
Julie: I definitely had thoughts like that. The first week I was out there I rode the whole course by myself. It was super windy that day and I was miserable and definitely questioned that day what I was doing. For the most part I look back on the race as a good experience, a positive one I think I want to be part of again.
ST: What were your first thoughts when you heard that Chrissie Wellington was sick and would not start?
Julie: My first reaction, and my husband Michael will vouch for this, was 'Whoa!' I was excited she was not racing. Obviously she is so dominant at the Ironman distance it opened things up a little. But after I had a chance to sit down and think about it for 5 minutes, I was definitely disappointed because I wanted to see how I'd fare against her. She has been so dominant her first 9 Ironmans, she is the benchmark I wanted to compare myself to.
ST: What splits did you get during the run and how did you react to them?
Julie: I think I got 11 minutes [11:34] on Rinny off the bike and then at the turnaround on Alii I think it was down to 7 minutes. I was pretty happy with that. I knew Rinny goes out hard the first few miles. Then it went down to 6 pretty quickly. Then at the top of Palani I started to get more cramping issues and she closed it down pretty fast.
ST: What few words did you exchange when she passed?
Julie: When she went by she definitely said something. I do not remember what it was. I remember she tapped me on the butt and I definitely remember looking across to her and I said something and tapped her on the shoulder. When Rinny touches me on the run, I know I'm not going to win the race any more. I guess she could have a meltdown. But it was hard to believe I could still win the race.
ST: How did you feel at the moment when you thought you could no longer win the race?
Julie: I was happy for her. I could see she was having a great race. I can’t remember what I said. Something like 'Go on Rinny! It's your race.'
ST: Steffen took a little longer to get you?
Julie: Coming out of the Energy Lab, I was struggling. The last 6 miles were a case of running when I could, then getting a cramp in my hammies and calves at the same time, and trying to tell myself to run through without my legs buckling under me. So I would have to stop and walk and get fluids. When I was able to run again I felt I was running OK. But l really focused on what I needed to do to get to the finish line. Caroline probably passed me a mile or two out of the Energy Lab. When I was running I was holding or closing a little bit of time, and then I'd have to stop and deal with my cramping again.
ST: What were your emotions at the end?
Julie: I think I was just happy to be finished. I knew I was in a bit of a bad way the last mile. It took a lot out of me just to get there. But I was super excited to give Rinny a hug and congratulate her. And I was happy to finish third in my first Ironman. And later I was happy to be in the medical tent under care. I felt like I needed some help — like I'm gonna die! LAUGHING Now I know I was in no danger. But not at the time.
ST: How much did you have left at Maui two weeks later?
Julie: In Maui I thought I felt a little bit flat. Mentally more than anything. You know, I raced as hard as I could on the day. I almost felt like my body didn't want to hurt again. And I know I can’t have my body feel like that if I want to win a World Championship.
ST: How did you feel about finishing second — 72 seconds behind Shonny Vanlandingham — after three straight wins?
Julie: I just thought 'All right. All right.' I'm not going to lie. I was disappointed I could not go back and win it. I definitely was there wanting to win again but I didn’t know how I'd do after Ironman. It was definitely not a good two weeks, I was sick with an ear infection and it might have had an impact on my race. But I didn’t disgrace myself either. It could have been a lot worse.
ST: How much is left in your tank for Clearwater?
Julie: I am not sure how much is left. A few days after Maui I was close to saying I will not race Clearwater. I felt really toasted for 3 or 4 days early this month. But I've just been thinking I can't win a world title unless I am on the start line. I want to win more world titles, so I have to put myself on the start line. I have nothing to lose. I have to go out there and race as hard as I can and if all goes well I can win another one.
ST: Some people have done pretty well at Clearwater after Kona. Lisa Bentley came off her best ever Kona finish – third – and finished second at Clearwater in 2006. Sam McGlone came back after finishing second at Kona in 2007 and finished second at Clearwater. Craig Alexander came back after finishing second in his Kona debut to finish fourth. Others have done worse. But no one has won at Clearwater after racing Kona. How well can you go?
Julie: When I think about it I tell myself all I need to ask of myself is 4 hours of super effort and I might have a chance of being on top of the podium again.
ST: Are you tempted to daydream about sitting in a hammock in a tropical clime and just rest?
Julie I absolutely try not to think about it. I set myself a goal to race Kona, Maui and Clearwater. Nobody else told me to do it. It is something I want to do, a challenge I set for myself. Deep down I know I do want to go lie in a hammock and switch off with a mai tai in my hand and I will definitely eventually do that. But No thinking about that first. I am blocking those nice thoughts out for now.
ST: Do you plan to visit Great Britain over the holidays?
Julie I will stay in Boulder most of the winter. My parents will be here for a few days after Clearwater and I will show them how Americans do Thanksgiving. And then I will just plan on staying at home in Boulder and enjoy the winter and do some skiing and relax with Mike and our dog Lucky and spend time at home. That is really not a bad prospect.
