Well on the 1st June I was competing in the Outlaw Half Ironman.
Which consists of 1.2m swim, 56 cycle and then a 13.1 mile run to finish off.
We decided that it would be best to set off on the Friday
afternoon. So we did not have to rush about on the Saturday getting to
registration etc. Just aswell we did leave on the Friday the amount of
roadworks to Nottingham was joke. One of them was a 19 mile straight of average
speed camera's for 50mph. We did eventually arrive at our chosen premier inn
for the night @ about 8pm. Unfortunately I could not bring Erin with me as she
had school on the Monday (day we were travelling home). Rebecca was soo nice
and gave us virtually no sleep on the Friday night.
On the Saturday had some breakfast and then decided the first
thing we needed to do was get registered. Headed over the Holme Point, all the
car parks were full. So had to park in what felt the end of the park (which
would of been about 1 mile away from the registration tent). Once we got parked
on the grass verge which turned out to be about 200 yards from the
registration, doubled back on ourselves. Where we were parked was good for
watching the Nottingham Triathlon that was taking part on the Saturday it was
also a European Age Group Qualifier. The ground was still soft and muddy, great
for pushing a pram over......NOT. The set up was very organised. Went straight
to get registered first which was painless. It was tattoo transfers for the
numbers which we we to put on ourselves. Came back out to find that some twat
competitor had pushed Yvonne into a mud puddle. Shoes completely ruined.
Let her go freshen up while I sat and amused Rebecca. After which
we took a walk over to the Expo tent and I had a look around, I will add that
was all I did. Bought a grand total of ZERO. Headed back to the car as I had a
matter of a small cycle and a run. Yvonne wanted to take a wonder at the
Victoria Centre, that was a farce to get to. Eventually found it dropped her
off and headed back to Holme Point to meet up with Jason to go a cycle.
Got parked, bike put together, got ready, met up with Jason and
one of his friends and went a gentle 10 mile cycle round some of the course. It
was pretty much uneventful. Got back quick change then out for a 2 mile run.
Again back on part of the course that I would be running the next day. By this
point I could feel the hayfever kicking in BIG style, yeah we were running
through what seemed virtually all beside or on grass. Got back picked up Yvonne
went back to the premier Inn had some dinner and then off to bed.
Never really slept much as I had to be up at 4 am as my start wave
was 6:30 am. Plus being on of the nervous disposition I always think I am going
to be late etc. Got up had granola oats for breakfast with a couple of
croissants. Filled up one of my 750ml water bottles with nuun about 90mins
before the event. Sipped on it till the start, about 1hr before I started a
banana and slowly ate that. About 10 mins before the swim necked an ISO gel.
The weather looked not too bad, cloudy cover but still warm.
I was number 107, wave one. So this could be a chance for me to
get swam over, was not looking forward to that aspect. Bike was racked, there
was not much room for your gear. All the bikes handlebars were touching it was
that tight. Anyway I managed, put on my wetsuit. Which was the first time since
the Vit in 2012, this was also going to be my first open water swim since then
aswell. The event staff were calling for everyone in wave one, this was me.
Time had eventually come for me to head to the start. I got in the water and it
was freezing. Forgot how cold it actually is. I was going to use my Tempo Pro
to pace myself. Then before I knew what was happening the air horn was blasted
and we were off. I never rushed out I just took my time. I was sticking to my
own plan. FINISH. I was so glad I used the tempo pro I managed to pace myself
no problem. I even overtook people, probably the same people that rushed past
me at the start. The swim was horrible not in the way you may think. The weeds
and roots in the water that you had to fight through was horrible. Otherwise I
enjoyed the swim, yes you heard right I ENJOYED the swim. Got out in 38:55,
really pleased with that.
T1 was slow, but I could not feel my feet they were that cold. Got
the wetsuit off dried my feet, socks on. helmet on, gloves on, windstopper on
(was pre filled with my nutrition). Exited T1 to be pulled back because my
number belt was not visable. So had to mess about, unclip it then readjust it
then I could head off. Jumped on the bike and away I went.
The bike was good, this is what I was looking forward to, the open
road. The pack I started with at the beginning of the bike section is pretty
much who I came in with at the end of the bike section. I did overtake I fair amount
of people, at the same time though loads overtook me, which included a few
females (that started 30mins after me) The one hill that I managed to put in
the wrong gear for Oxton bank I think was the hill. Man that was some gradient.
I struggled up it, but I got up it. There was a feed station at the top passed
it by. Actually I never stopped at any of the feed stations on the bike. i did
get one annoying competitor wanting to pass on my right and he kept saying
right, right coming through your right. Even though l had nowhere to go. It was
at the feed station and everyone on my left had stopped so I just kept going.
He gave me a disapproving look as he passed. Never mind he could not of been to
happy when I passed him again and then never saw him again lol. The rest of the
ride was good until the last 3 miles where the road conditions were poor to say
the least. Loads of lost water bottles, we even crossed a cattle grid. There
were a few unmarked speed bumps which made for interesting times. Finished the
bike in just over 2hrs 51mins again really chuffed with that.
T2 again was slow. Time I racked the bike got all my gear off and
trainers on.Took ages, another gel was had plus a gulp of nuun. Hat put on as
it had got a lot warmer now. Yes and you have guessed it no sun cream.
The run was terrible to say the least. My first mile was my
fastest mile 7:54, then it really slowed. The
heat by this time was starting to get to me, it picked up 2 cups of water at
every feed station one for me one for the back of my neck. Did not pick up and
High 5 or gels. At mile 9 everything went wrong got stomach cramp and it never
improved. Unsure the cause. Have to say I was not going fast anyway. I had
nothing left to give. At the last feed station I did take on board a flat coke
which seemed to settle my stomach a bit so I could run/jog the last mile. The
run was full of obstacles be it hurdling dogs, dodging bikes or just having
terrible hayfever (which I could not avoid). When I saw my time for the run at
the end I have to say I was impressed even with my problems. Third fastest half
marathon time and that is after a swim and a cycle. 2hr 15min
Overall I hit all targets I set out to do.
Improve my times on the Vitruvian in 2012 and beat my overall time. I thought I
was being ambitious looking for under 6hrs. Considering that my Vitruvian time
was 6hrs 31min. But I shocked myself.
Overall time 5hrs 55mins
Next Ironman UK 20th July.
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