At the end of last season I had very carefully selected a goal for 2024. With some encouragement from my very patient coach I agreed to go for quality not quantity this year.
Well I’m not entirely convinced that plan quite worked out as I accidentally entered, amongst other things, 2 half marathons, Volcano triathlon, Southport Olympic, Cheshire Cat sportive, Dragon Ride, Cotswold Classic, Tour Du Mon, Mersey Swim and Long Course Weekend Yorkshire to name but a few.
Well I’m not entirely convinced that plan quite worked out as I accidentally entered, amongst other things, 2 half marathons, Volcano triathlon, Southport Olympic, Cheshire Cat sportive, Dragon Ride, Cotswold Classic, Tour Du Mon, Mersey Swim and Long Course Weekend Yorkshire to name but a few.
I can feel the despair from Jon resonating through Training Peaks, more so because I fail to actually enter these minor details into the app.
So as Weymouth approaches it is clear that I am absolutely cream crackered but shhh, don’t tell anyone but I think I may have overloaded myself this year.
Anyway, Saturday arrives and Julie and I head nervously and excitedly to Weymouth. 6 hours later we arrive driving along the prom looking for registration and parking which was quite tricky. Anyway we park up, got our bikes and gear together and head towards what we thought was registration. Nope, it wasn’t. Cut a long story short, 5.5 reluctant miles later (up-down-around the prom) we racked our bikes and sorted our transition bags and headed, worn out, to our apartment.
Julie cooked a fine Salmon Risotto and we got ourselves to bed handy and set the alarm for 5am. Why we went to bed early who knows as pre-race-day-no-sleep plus the party atmosphere in Weymouth meant there wasn’t much. A late party goer hollering outside the window turned out to be our courtesy alarm call instead.
Bleary eyed we attempted to fuel and grab a coffee before walking 2 miles to transition. It was a beautiful morning and watching the sun rise over the beach as we walked along was amazing. The prom was already busy with people walking half dressed half asleep in their wetsuits.
As we approached the ROKA inflatable start line at the beach we soon woke up and panic set in. We went to transition to add fuel and drinks to bikes and bags and do final tyre checks and join the endless Portaloo queue. All of a sudden it was 7am and off we marched to the start line.
Thunderstruck began and the sea was still as can be……until 2000 people got in. Before I reached the first buoy my goggles were dragged off my face so I thought it was game over but managed to grab them in the water and put them back on. Bit of saltwater swilling around the eyes was fun. Breathing got a bit frantic but got moving again. Sunrise was directly in our eyes which meant it was difficult to see so I was just following the splashes.
Half a mile out from shore the turn came and all of a sudden it got busy again and this time I took a blow to the nose from someone’s big foot. Again anxiety set in and I wasn’t sure I could cope with any more water fights but managed to steer clear of people for a bit and after the next turn I could see the finish. I got to shore and was a bit offended no one helped me out of the water so I staggered like a drunkard up the beach and ran barefoot along the tarmac and into transition. I was disorientated and couldn’t focus so had to sit for almost 10 mins to recalibrate. Julie came and went but I couldn’t get on the bike like this.
Eventually I got on my bike and got moving. The route was definitely rolling, but who examines race profiles properly anyway. All seemed to be going fairly well – about an hour in and I pulled out a gel from my race pouch and everything plopped onto the floor.
Oh nooo I thought, no fuel (and I littered)! Next stop I grabbed a banana and felt a moment of triumph that I’d successfully taken it off a fuelling Marshall whilst on the bike and then peeled it. I was just about to scoff it when plop, that too landed on the floor. Hmmm this fuelling malarky was not going to plan.
40 miles in and Revels Hill arrived and some were already walking. Managed to drag myself up it (googled it afterwards and it was 15% in parts – yes maybe should have looked at that before the race). Once that was out of the way it was the homeward stretch and I amusingly got accused of trying to draft a motorbike by one rather over keen male cyclist.
Off the bike I got and it felt acceptable considering the hills and it was then I realised I had no legs left. A mix of little fuel and going hard on the ride was going to make my run incredibly tough.
And yep it certainly was. Very hot, tired legs and grumpy Vicky. Up and down pavements seemed like mountains and people with signs saying ‘you paid for this remember’ really became quite irritating by lap 2. That aside the support on the front was absolutely incredible and despite my brain telling me to stop and not carry on, the crowds cheering and shouting words of encouragement saved me from that dark place!
Crossing the finish line was emotional. It felt like I had used every ounce of me to get across the line and the tears rolled. Probably a good thing I didn’t get a finisher pic to be honest #uglycryface!
I would say that was the hardest thing I have done, whether it was because I wasn’t well the week leading up to it, whether it was because I was tired from doing too much this year already, a lack of fuel or a combo of all 3, I will never really know. But I am so proud of myself for doing it and dragging myself through it. 2/3 years ago I was struggling to run 5k and now I have done a fairly tough Ironman 70.3 in 6 hrs 38 mins.
Mahoosive thanks to the most patient coach on the planet. How Jon hasn’t fired me as a client I will never know, but I do know I would never have done what I have if it wasn’t for his support, encouragement and expertise!
Do I want to do another? Nope absolutely not.
Will I do another? Yes, absolutely! Well actually I may have already accidently entered a few things for 2025.
IM Tallinn here I come.
