On Friday, I had a “homemade” Ironman on the menu, in Thassos, for the second year in a row. The appetizer of 3.8 km swimming, the main course of 180 km biking, and the dessert of 42.2 km running are quickly becoming a tradition 😍.

For the last two days in Thassos, I had planned a tour around the island (by car) to visit various attractions and this triathlon. Since Friday’s weather forecast called for periods of rain, even a yellow storm warning in the afternoon, the choice was practically made. Actually, the decision to switch the days was made Thursday at around 9 p.m. when I started preparing everything for the next day’s extravaganza 😁.

Like last year, I started at Blue Lake, a beach dear to me. The water wasn’t exactly blue, nor a lake, but it wasn’t rough… at first. I started with great emotions and set off. I had to choose between swimming laps or heading left toward Prinos. The water was calm, I quickly found my rhythm, and I ventured toward Prinos. The plan was as simple as could be: 2 km out, 2 km back.

Unlike last year, when I left my car key on the shore in a towel and stressed about it the whole time, this year, I avoided that problem. Carmen came with me to the start and stayed throughout the swim.

I felt great during the first half. There was a slight current behind me, and it was perfect. On the way back, things were pretty much the same until I "rounded the corner" near Vicky’s Tavern. That’s where everything changed. Waves started coming head-on, around 30 cm high and plenty of them, enough to mess with your head. This made things progressively harder, and the cherry on top came about 300 meters from the finish when I had to turn again, and the current grew stronger.

The issue was that it was pushing me toward the shore, which wouldn’t have been so bad if the sea floor in that area wasn’t full of rocks and sea urchins 🤭. It was an epic battle that felt like hours 😂, but in reality, it only lasted a few minutes. The stress, however, was real, as the water got shallower, and the current risked introducing me to a sea urchin up close.

Finally, I passed that area and tried with all my might to move toward the finish, the spot where I wanted to exit the water. The sun had hidden behind some clouds, and the sea had taken on a strange, somber hue. The current held me mostly in place, considering the direction I needed to go to complete the planned 3,800 meters. Eventually, I managed to reach the shore exactly where I aimed to and nailed the distance.

At no point was I in any real danger—don’t get me wrong—it was just a bit more complicated 😊.

I went to the car and got ready for the next segment.

Of course, I took the classic photo with Luceafărul, for those who remember from last year. 😂

I moved the car to our accommodation, still here in Skala Rachoni, among olive trees, just how I like it 😍.

On the bike, the wind gave me a hard time. Even in those conditions, I tried to maintain an average of 30 km/h, and I managed it for the first two laps (120 km). In the third lap, the wind shifted direction by 180 degrees and intensified. On the first part, I was crawling along, but on the return, I was flying at 35-45-50 km/h. The worst part was that I couldn’t fully enjoy the descents because the wind kept hitting me head-on or from the side, making me risk a fall. Regardless, I had two close calls that convinced me someone up there loves me—there’s no other explanation 🤭.

Despite it being tough and draining, I absolutely loved it. It was amazing. I pushed hard, rode fast, and even had moments in villages where I passed lines of cars. These were often stuck behind some gentleman who probably witnessed the French Revolution live and was driving a car from that era 🤭.

On the last lap, it was scorching hot. I tried a new gel strategy out of necessity because the bike’s container is cracked somewhere. I chose to go with three bottles. Theoretically, I needed one per hour. Each bottle contained 750 ml of water, 3 gels, and an isotonic tablet.

Everything was great for about four hours. Then, especially because of the heat, I got fed up with that warm, sweet concoction. Normally, I would have one bottle filled with gels and others with water and isotonic drink. This way, I wasn’t just drinking sweet stuff.

But this time, I tried something different. After 4 hours, during the second lap, I stopped at a Panetteria in Skala Kallirachis, one where I usually buy a traditional dessert that’s hard to find elsewhere.

Anyway, I stopped, emptied the bottles, and refilled them with cold cola mixed with cold water. Things improved, and my nausea disappeared.

Last year, I mentioned that when cycling in Thassos, the only ones I have issues with are Romanians. Only they pass dangerously close to me, only they honk right next to me, and… well, you get the idea. I had even made a top, and it seemed Buzău was tied with another county. Well, yesterday Buzău won, hands down. I promised myself that next time I do this, I’ll wear a personalized message on my back, something like:

RO: I’m Romanian like you. If you can, try not to run me over, honk at me right next to me, or involve my mother in your insults. If you can, and especially if you’re from Buzău.

OTHERS: Thank you for looking out for me on the road. Your respect for cyclists makes the journey safer and more enjoyable! 🤣

I finished the 180 km in 6 hours and 6 minutes, a good result considering the conditions and over 1,200 meters of elevation gain.

The most interesting part was how hungry I was. Carmen was waiting for me with some sandwiches, which made me incredibly happy. I can say I had a proper feast before the run. I even had fries.

The run started poorly. It’s as if I didn’t have the experience of 10 other Ironman events behind me. I decided to return to the car every 5.5 km. I didn’t feel like carrying a flask with me—I don’t know why. I think the fatigue from the bike, as I mentioned earlier, clouded my judgment 🤭.

I started fast, aiming to finish the marathon in under 4 hours. Don’t ask me why. Neither the place, the conditions, nor any logic justified pushing so hard. I ran well for about 5 km, but when I was supposed to turn back to the car, I decided to do another 5 km. The problem was that I also changed the route. If the planned route was among those old olive trees I told you about in Skala Rachoni, the next 5 km were random through the town and port, under the blazing sun—what a fool 😂. I reached the car after 10.5 km, drained and dying of thirst 🤪.

After that, I stuck to the planned route but still didn’t carry a flask 😂. It took another 5 km for me to get my act together. Only from km 16-17 onward did I do things as they should have been done from the start: proper route, nutrition, and pacing. What matters is that I managed to recover by km 21 and then ran fairly easily at a pace of 6:15-6:30 with a heart rate of 130-140.

Of course, it helped that by evening, the temperature dropped, Carmen kept bringing me ice, water, and cold cola, and at one point, some Haribo gummies appeared 🤭.

Fortunately, the run turned out fine in the end. I fully recovered, the run was enjoyable, and it didn’t turn into a nightmare where every 100 meters feels like it will never end.

I finished the run in 4 hours and 30 minutes in good overall condition, although drained of energy from the heat and wind on the bike, and with a thirst that didn’t go away until morning, no matter how much I drank 😂.

I’m very pleased with the result and how everything turned out. It was a great training session. The island is gorgeous and offers everything you could want from a sports perspective. This was my 11th Ironman, and I’m so happy I finished it successfully.

❤️🏊🏻‍♂️🚴‍♂️🏃‍♂️