No matter what you tell yourself, and sometimes others tell you too – there’s always a challenge to be had. Some of you who follow or take part in triathlons will know that there are Sprint, Standard (Olympic), Half Ironman and the full Ironman distances….. the latter of which I have always said and still maintain, is for the insane!
When I was first introduced to this sport over 20 years ago, I didn’t even contemplate doing one myself (supporting was quite enough), let alone finally taking on possibly the biggest challenge of my life so far - a Half Ironman to celebrate my 50th Birthday – am I crazy? – probably yes!!
So where did my journey begin? Growing up by the seaside and surrounded by fields and countryside, I’ve always loved the outdoors. My mother particularly, loved the Lake District and we spent many happy family holidays there, walking amongst the mountains. By the time I hit my late 30’s, I already swam, cycled and had completed my first London marathon….. but I had only done these disciplines separately. Then through friends, and my then boyfriend, I discovered triathlons. I was happy to be a ‘supportive wife’ - driving all over the country and even going abroad to watch my partner and his friends compete.
Then the unthinkable happened – I thought I would try one. I started off with a couple of novice ‘Try a Tri’s… (short starter races), then soon I became a fully-fledged member of my then partner’s Tri club and started doing sprint and standard distance races. I’d caught the bug!
Over the next 15 years, I would race between 5 and 9 triathlons each season (April to October). Training became addictive and despite having said ‘NEVER’ to anything over the standard distance, six months before my 50th Birthday, I started thinking, well maybe just a Half Ironman then…. After all we’re only 50 once! My 50th year would also mean so much more to me because it meant my mum would have been dead 30 years… so this race would be as much for her as me. Along with a couple of supportive friends, we started to check out all the Half Ironman distance races and I decided on East Yorkshire’s ‘The Sundowner’. It appealed to me for many reasons:
- It started at midday (and finishing as the sun went down – hence the name), rather than the crack of dawn, so there was more chance of getting some sleep the night before. We’d be able to get breakfast and have a reasonably leisurely start to the day.
- It was a flat cycle and run course giving a good chance of getting a fast time.
- And most importantly, it was being held on the day before what would have been my mum’s 92nd birthday. Apt I thought!
So enter it we did! Then it was onto thinking seriously about how we would train for it…..
From the October before through to September, many evenings and most weekends were spent either swimming, cycling or running – or any combination of the three. Watt biking became my new passion, open water swims in the local lidos (with breakfast after) became a staple weekend activity as did cycling and then running off the bike.
We also fitted in strength and conditioning classes, yoga and Pilates to boot!
After a fabulous cycling holiday in Italy in May, covering some 300 miles of mountainous roads, we were ready for our first major ‘warm up’ event – the inaugural Velothon Wales in June. This would be a 140 km cycle with over 1800 metres of climbing, including the notorious The Tumble and Caerphilly Mountain. With our hearts in our mouths for at least some of the ascents and descents, we arrived back in Cardiff in one piece and were really pleased with our achievements.
Then it was onto the next task in hand…. Bewl Standard distance Triathlon (1500m swim / 40 km bike / 10 km run), followed the next day by Bewl Open Water Swim challenge (my first 1900m swim in real open water).
Our next long training ride would be Ride 100 – London’s closed road cycle sportive out into the Surrey countryside. I had done the inaugural event 2 years previously and was hoping to do a better time, but we were delayed by a couple of hours by another cyclist sadly suffering a fatal heart attack and sheer congestion on narrow lanes. Nevertheless, we were pleased to have completed the distance.
On 5th September, our race weekend beckoned: a 1900m swim, 90 km (56 mile) bike ride, and a half marathon run. Our bags and cars packed, we made our way up to Yorkshire and our luxury B & B that we had booked.
Race day – eeek! The water looked still but the skies were unkind. Just an hour before my wave was due to start, the rain fell – not ideal for a 56 mile cycle. The swim was busier than expected. Although sometimes flailing arms and legs occur in open water, this time, no one seemed able to swim in a straight line and one man kept grabbing my arm and leg. I finally had enough and told him to off and leave me alone! Once I managed to get clear of him and some other swimmers, the swim was fine.
Next up was the bike – I’d been looking forward to the flat and quiet country roads, but minimal cover and head-on wind made it tough. My back went into spasm but eventually, I finished the bike course and it was time for the run. Having had foot problems on and off for years, I was worried about the run. Legs felt like jelly initially but loosened up, and although the foot pain came on after 50 minutes, I finished. Total time: just over 6 hours (6:09). I even bagged a trophy – 2nd in my Age Group (50–59). What an achievement!
My message to you fellow readers – Reach for the stars and follow your dreams. You never know where they might take you. Good luck and enjoy whatever challenges you want to overcome.