Unfortunately Andy had to withdraw from the Ironman this year so that left just the 3 of us, well Dave had arranged to go up to "try" the bike course a couple of weeks ago and I managed to get a couple of days of work and travelled up to join him. Unfortunately following this trial run Dave had to withdraw from the event as well, so Just Nicky and myself were left of the original 4.
Friday arrived and having dropped my youngest of with Nanny, I set off on the long drive north with Amanda, we arrived at the hotel about 10.30 and were soon asleep in preparation for the following busy weekend.
Saturday involved registration to collect all the relevant numbers bags etc for the event, then it was off to Pennington Flash to rack my bike and deposit my bag of bike kit in the changing tent. As our hotel was close to the start we went back for a couple of hours rest before heading back up to the Macron stadium to deposit my run bag, meet up with Nicky and attend the race briefing.
As we were parked in the stadium car park and several hundred athletes were trying to get out we decided to find somewhere local for food, fortunately there are a few places around and it was only about a 40 minute wait to get a table.
Suitably fed we dropped Nicky at her hotel, leaving her car at the stadium in order to get back after the race, then back to our hotel for an early night, alarms set for 3.30 the following morning!
Race morning arrived all too quickly and the routine of porridge for breakfast, worrying about if I had packed everything etc. began. Then off to collect Nicky and get to the start, the first close call was when we were walking from the car to the start I remembered that I had left my drinks bottles in the car, luckily no too far away from car, a quick jog back and we were on our way again.
Walking up the road to the start Nicky, who has raced at Bolton before pointed out that she had seen riders loose their bottles over the speed bumps on the road out from Pennington Flash a good warning that not only should you worry about loosing your bottles but to be aware that others might be lying on the road.
So having arrived at T1, found our bikes and loaded them up with our nutrition it was time to make use of the facilities before donning the wetsuits and heading out to the lake. I dropped my white bag of "Street Wear" with the team and wandered back into transition to find Nicky again. At this point I bumped into my cousin Laura who was taking part in her first Ironman a few words of encouragement both ways and we were off to prepare.
The swim started bang on 6am although there were still quite a few athletes still on the docks at this time, the start was very busy and I took more that 1 thump to the head before I could find some space. The first lap of the course wasn't too bad although my goggles were a bit tight and uncomfortable but I battled through and exited the water a few minutes before the first of the Pros had exited after their second lap. On walking up the ramp to the carpet to get back to the water for my second lap I was feeling extremely dizzy and wondered if I would actually manage a second lap let alone the full event, following my exit from Challenge Henley from dizziness.
I adjusted my goggles and entered the water for the second time, there were a lot less people this time that the first time not surprisingly! as I started I was not feeling great and completed the majority of the second lap breaststroke in the hope that the lack of rolling would help my dizziness. I was still suffering from a pain from my goggles and with apologies to any swimmers following me I was a little bit sick in the lake.
The end of the swim could not arrive quick enough and was followed by a walk up to the changing tent, I really could not run at this point. After changing and collecting my bike I was on my way down the speed bump road, at which point I came across an ambulance treating a fellow competitor who had come off, followed swiftly by a shout of "another ones come off" just past the ambulance.
On the first hill the top was shrouded in mist so it was difficult to see where you were aiming for, which probably wasn't a bad thing! I continued on round to the second hill and my legs complained even more but I pushed on and managed to get up both the big hills both times without stopping to walk.
As I came into T2 I could see the people on the run coming the other way, quite a big hill to start the run off with! My bike was taken off me to be racked and I was into the tent to get my running gear on before exiting and tackling the hill.
Following on from the hill was an out and back section before running into the loop in Bolton, a left turn out to the turnaround and then back towards the finish line which they tormented you with by making you pass it 3 times before being allowed down the magic carpet to the finish!
As I came past it on the third occasion the people who were near me peeled off and went to collect their medal whilst I ran past the funnel to start my final lap, at this point it was a bit lonely but there were soon plenty of other people around.
I collected my final wrist band headed to the turnaround point and then back to the finish, this time I could turn left and run down the magic carpet to the finish arch, I was done, I was an Ironman! as I past the line I was quickly presented with my medal and guided round to have a finisher photo and on to get some food.
As I walked, or maybe stumbled away from the photo area Andy King was there to congratulate me followed swiftly by Nicky. I managed to get into the tent collect my finishers T-shirt and consume about 3 slices of pizza before heading out to find Andy and Nicky.
We collected our bikes and cars and then back to the hotels to collapse after the end of a long day!
Thanks must go to the following:
Amanda for coming up with me and keeping an eye on what was going on
Andy for having the bright idea to enter! (oh and driving us back to the stadium to get the bikes)
Nicky for her support and advice throughout the weekend
Dave for taking me round the bike course (even if the answer to my question of which way? was "up the hill"
Karen for the massage (I'm sure I will feel the benefit despite the initial pain!)
All the organisers and marshals without whom the event would not be possible.
Every single one of the supporters who were out on the course who were cheering on everyone one and encouraging us all to keep going. The atmosphere was absolutely amazing and support incredible.
As for my Ironman career, well I think I have completed that chapter of my life and need to find another challenge to concentrate on.
