Nur-Sultan (previously Astana), the capital of Kazakhstan. Beautiful city, clean, quiet, organized, maybe one of the best destinations for triathletes. Nice cycling only courses with lavender on the sides for scenery and scent! Amazing (and empty) olympic pools open to the public for minimal fees. Many run courses around the city. The weather in August averages around 20 degrees, ideal! The people are exceptionally nice, friendly and helpful, simple and relaxed, all with a smile.

After IM Texas in April, I was not planning to race this one but do I have any regret, oh no!! The organization was top level, thanks to all organizers and volunteers. The city’s infrastructure and relatively low number of participating athletes helped making things top notch.

The Race – the swim was ok relative to a river swim. Nice water temperature relatively clean but typically unclear. Aussie exit between laps (not ideal but generally fine). Nothing interesting there.

The bike course was nice and flat very clean roads (not much scenery though), completely closed traffic (amazing!), and almost perfect. The only things that were not so good are the zero implementation of drafting rules (one guy was drafting me wheel on wheel for more than 100k and when a tell him off he passes me and drops watts by 100!), and wind picked up gradually and by the time I was finishing the ride, it was strong head wind, which did not help with keeping the spirit up.

The run, my usual enemy! The course was described as flat and turned out to be rolling (first issue). Had a plan to finish sub 9:30 and was comfortably on target during the first half of the run. All going to plan up until the end of lap 2 out of 4. Then, unfortunately, the inevitable happened. Three major toilet stops! Each gel followed by a stop. It was bad that I had to stop taking gels on the second half of the run. No gels with half a marathon to go and after 8 hours of racing .. recipe for disaster! zero energy, cramps fatigue, all the bad feelings. Had to walk through every aid station for the first time! Completely forgot about my 9:30 target and was aiming for another sub 10 (at best), which I barely managed to pull off. Completed the race in pain and was waiting for a moment to get any source of energy in!

After a bit of resting overnight, went to the slot allocation ceremony with similar hopes from my Texas race, as the time is close, I was 8th out of 164 in my AG in Texas and 9th out of 66 here (yes, much tougher competition here than Texas). I was lucky enough to get a slot as my ranking was 5th for participants eligible for qualification, and apparently became the first Saudi to ever qualify as an age grouper with the fastest Saudi time in IM!!

Might seem impressive, started less than 2 years ago from scratch, completed 3 IMs and 3 70.3s in less than 10 months (+ 1 more IM and 2 70.3s planned in 2022) with qualification to both Kona and Utah 70.3 WCCs! But all that is insignificant when we look at the real hero and true champion! Yes, someone working in the shadows that did not just make all that happen but did much much more! The one and only @Raneem Tallab who was not just the backbone to my journey but had her journey too.

In early 2022 she got excited about exercising (which she never did), which turned quickly to wanting to complete a 70.3!. So we started a plan with Ruth and planned to do Mallorca 70.3 in May. Was too soon as she only had a couple of months of serious training (with 3 kids under 7 homeschooled and a useless husband😊) and no athletic background whatsoever. She got DNF and left in tears! I would have quit right there and then, but did she? No, not Raneem. She came back more determined and decided to register and train for Astana 70.3 (happening only 3 months after Mallorca). During these 3 months, I have never seen someone so determined (other than Lionel Sander maybe 😊), finishing some sessions in pain and tears and pushing harder than any one I know. The result becomes obvious after all that. She went to Nur-Sultan and smashed the hell out the Astana 70.3 and finished in 6hrs46m!!!

As always, all thanks go to the people around me who make it all happen. Needless to mention @Raneem Tallab, my family and you guys.

The year has not ended. Still 2 WCCs to go + a 70.3 in prep for Kona. Then I am planning to do the Saudi Games in Riyadh and West Asia Games in Khobar, although not at all my distance, but just to support the sport and its community in Saudi.

Until the next race!

Sincerely

Mohammed Al Marzouki