My own Journey:
I began 2010 the same way I'd been for the entire amount of my life so far. Aged 22 I was in pretty bad shape, I was always concerned about body image, but didn't have the get up and go to really do anything about it. I went to the gym, but only really did weights, which made me looking even bigger than I was! I always palmed off cardio work, and chalked it up to having had an ACL reconstruction a few years earlier. I weighed 107kg (I'm 5'10").
In early 2010 something changed though and I realised I was really kidding myself, and I was badly out of shape, and pretty much obese. Rather than making a fuss to my friends about how I was going to diet and get slim, I decided to just get on with it. I realised the only way to attack this was to get my diet into a manageable but sustainable level, and then really go to town on the exercise to create a hell of a calorie deficit. This was helped by largely cutting out the drink. I ran most days, at the beginning I couldn't even manage a mile without stopping. Over the months I slowly built up my fitness and the weight was falling off, I was getting compliments everywhere and I felt amazing, and weighed only around 85kg by christmas 2010.
Up to this point, I'd gotten so much into my running that I was entering events. Cardiff 10k, in 2010 with a 55 minute time, then my local 10k in 49 minutes which was a personal highlight as my first sub 50 time. My next big goal was plymouth half marathon in May 2011. This came and went and I ran it in a 1:46.00 which I was pretty happy with.
Running in Plymouth
At this point I was fairly happy with my body and fitness. So much so that I became a bit lazy throughout 2011, and I ended up going from being around 78kg at the time of the half marathon back up to 85kg by Christmas time, after a summer on holiday and on the booze punctuated with not a great deal of exercise.
This made me a bit unhappy as I realised what was happening. At the time I was cycling to work, which I was enjoying a lot. I then decided to invest in a road bike and got a lot more into my cycling when it turned 2012. It was then that the idea of a triathlon popped into my mind, as a friend had completed the London triathlon in 2011. By May 2012 I was embarking on my own training plan having entered the London 2012 triathlon myself. Halfway through this process, and having gotten thoroughly into triathlon (without having done one yet), but I was loving the training, I decided I was going to go for an Ironman in 2013.
My weeks consisted of roughly the below:
Code:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
24-Swim | 24-Run | 32-Swim | 32-Run | 40-Swim | Off | 40-Run
48-Bike | | 64-Bike | 80-Bike| | |
This carried on with a few tweaks in an increase by week of 10% for 3 weeks and then back - 40%, and then increase again.
By the end of the program the volumes were a higher, but I had drawn a line due to the amount of time, and due to really over training the Olympic distance unnecessarily. Coming upto the event itself I was weighing in around 77.5kg and was feeling really fit. My best 10k run at this point was around 46 minutes. I had a good amount of open water swim experience having joined my local lake during the summer, and during training had cycled a lot. 165miles in a day my biggest ride to date
During my training I also made the decision to enter Ironman UK 2013. More on that later in this thread.
My London Race Report:
Up at 5.30am with a large porridge and coffee. Packed all my stuff into the car and prepped my drinks for the race. Was worried about needing the toilet during the race, number two in particular as I seem to have a habit of needing this when I run
. Although I felt pretty stable at that point.
A 45 minute busy drive later, with a few wrong turns and diversions we were at the Excel centre. I was now feeling the nerves. This became all the more apparent walking into the main hall after having collected my race chip. Wow! It was huge, people bikes and so much stuff everywhere. Everyone seemed to be doing something or going somewhere too. Quite overwhelming, but inspiring and nerve wracking at the same time. I wandered over to the racking area with all my gear, and tried to set up my first transition area. To be honest I didn’t really know what I was doing, and just guessed at where to lay everything out in some sort of order. Bike with number helmet and glasses led on top was a useful idea. Whipped my wetsuit on waist high with tri suit underneath and took my goggles. A quick toilet stop and first catch up with my parents later I attempted to hydrate, and have a toilet stop. Although the latter did little to settle me as nothing would come out!
Wetsuit on and over to the gathering area for the swim, this was when I was feeling the nerves a little more, but the excitement was also building now.
So many unknowns, what would the swim be like, would I be slow, would I bonk, would I get punched etc etc, so many questions. Our wave was segregated into two and we separately made our way to the water after the initial group. I was in the latter group. Down the stairs to the water, “jump in guys”,
, ok. Felt great jumping into the water, and made my way into the middle of everybody else there. The first group were off, and our buzzer sounded shortly after. I was going! Swim stroke felt odd at first due to the volume and proximity of people, but I quickly settled into a rhythm and found some space. Sighting was easy as there were quite a few things to see. I seemed to be swimming nice and straight too. Good strokes occasionally punctuated with forced breaks having belted into someone, or vice versa. Nothing painful though as there seemed to be plenty of space either side of people. I felt good and felt like I was passing quite a few of the other swimmers which gave me confidence, although I was conscious of trying not to go too hard too soon. Mild muscle pain developed but I knew I could easily push through this, which cleared up quite quickly. This was followed by a mild stitch which wouldn’t go away so I tried to work on slowing my breathing and breathing fully, although this never really subsided.
First bouy came up and turned into a bit of a scrum, but I just pushed on. Checked the watch as I assumed this may represent the halfway point. 10 minutes. I wished! Turned onto the longest leg of the swim back up towards the excel. With no visual stimulation beside the occasional sighting and seemingly little in the way of sensory stimulation the swim gave me a lot of time to think about the race. I was finally doing what I’d trained so long for! I felt good and I considered what the bike would feel like. The weather was holding up well, despite being a little cold and grey but was dry and the water was relatively calm. I pushed on and tried to inject a little more pace as I felt confident. Round the last bouy through the scrum again, and towards the pontoon and the outstretched arms of the helpers. I kept sighting as I just couldn’t wait to get there! After a few breastroke kicks to wake the legs up I was hauled out of the water. Cap and goggles off, through the arch and the shower, I was jogging towards transition. 26 mins the watchface told me. A decent swim time! Wetsuit ripped off nice and quick and into the bag provided. Jogging towards transition again felt awful, up the flight of stairs into the excel felt even worse! Began to walk towards the bike which was a mistake.
The swim left me a little dizzy and disoriented breathing heavily with a nasty stitch. Began jogging to the bike again to which I struggled to find at first. Wetsuit down, feet on the towel, socks on, compression layer? Compression layer? Jacket? Compression layer is inside out! Turn it the right way round, I’m sweating, I’ll be ok without it! Number belt on, helmet and glasses on. And I begin to wheel the bike out. My bike shoes feel surprisingly ok to jog out in so I set a reasonable pace (SPD-SL shoes). Garmin is turned on by now but fails to get a signal inside. I jump on the bike past the mount line and am on my way, first to navigate the concrete ramps of the excel, and then finally out onto the open road. Legs feel great and I’m quickly powering towards Westminster. Body feels cold to begin with but quickly warms up. I am flying! Overtaking everybody I feel fantastic, amazing to be constantly sat on the aerobars and setting a good pace. The bike course is fantastic fun, especially through the downhill tunnel sections which are nice and warm. After the first turn I realise I am now going into a headwind, but it’s not too strong and does little to hamper my pace.
One big lap and one little lap later I’m wheeling into transition with a 1.02 bike time which I’m over the moon with. Very good pace. Bike onto the rack, helmet off, trainers slipped on number belt spun round, gel from the bike and I’m off on the run course. Initially don’t know which direction to take but eventually find a bloke to follow. He asks for the time which I give. 9.39. this means I’m on target for a sub 2.30 race? Go go I think to myself
. Out onto the course for the first time I feel really good. The laps are fairly small though and very twisty, not a very fun course. Would have much preferred an out and back style loop. The crowd are great, and seeing my friends and my parents every lap is a real boost, and a definite plus of a lap course. 3 laps down I’m beginning to feel it, and my stitch which disappeared for the bike leg is back, and I seem to have a lot of gas in the stomach. The intestines start to move as well and I’m really worried about needing to relieve them!
Eventually the fourth lap comes, I keep telling myself that I’ll only get one chance at this and to make it count, it helps, as does the knowledge that this is my last time round this ruinous little course. My feet are burning at this point and I think of the finish line. On the way back to the excel I begin to inject some more pace, and go for it. Up the ramp into the excel and round towards the finish in a sprint now, round the last turn and up onto the finishing ramp. I’ve done it!!! That was hard! Is my first thought, as I grimace and stumble towards the guys handing out medals. My parents are there with open arms and the emotion overcomes me for a while. I finally finished, and all the training is finally come to an end, with a tangible and good result!! I compose myself and feel ok. All I can seem to tell people is that the race was hard! My dad directs me over to an icebath which I sign up to and jump in. so cold, eventually the pain numbs and I can feel the benefit. The guy running the stand is great and wants to chat all about my race and nutrition etc. he notes that I planned a very good race nutritionally, and it certainly worked well for me bar the stitch.
I eventually jump out of the ice bath, but I just cant warm up, I go off to collect my bike and stuff, but cant find my wetsuit. After a few laps of transition I give up and queue to make my way out, with all my layers applied in an attempt to warm up. After being told numerous times Ive got blue lips, I get a chilli jacket potato and cup of tea inside me. This fails, so I decide to get changed from my wet trisuit into dry clothes. This works wonders and I’m finally warmed up.
A fantastic race which I would do again if just for the bike course, although hectic with slower riders, it was amazing fun! The run definitely could do with improving though. Unlikely I’ll be able to attempt in 2013 though due to the Ironman. The sense of accomplishment slowly sinks in and I’m really happy with my time. Happier with a 2.31, safe in the knowledge I have plenty to work on to be able to go well sub 2.30 maybe even 20.
