IRONMAN UK : RACE DAY THROUGH THE EYES OF A FIRST TIMER!

May I begin by sharing  with you the biggest thing that I have learnt on my journey?

Ok, come closer so I can whisper it to you…..

Are you ready?

Here goes……

Race day should only ever be one thing…..

A celebration of all your training…..

And That is exactly what Ironman UK felt like to me…..

A celebration.

From the moment that I arrived in the registration tents until the minute I crossed the finish line, IMUK was quite possibly the most amazing experience of my life.

Before we get started, I want you to promise me something.

If you are not already an Ironman, please make the decision to become one now….

Right now.

If you would like some inspiration on how this will be possible for you then please consider getting a copy of my book and read how I was able to go from being..

• ‘One of the lads’ always in the pub
• Very overweight and unfit
• Unable to swim a single length front crawl
• Hadn’t ridden a bike for almost 20 years
• Couldn’t run any more than ten yards without wanting to stop……..

To Becoming an Ironman myself.

Its not just ‘another inspirational story’ it’s a step by step training manual detailing exactly how I did it., race by race, together with the many secrets that I learned along the way. (available on amazon right now).

You might also want to join the @uktrichat community on twitter and the ironman UK journey facebook page and get involved.

Why?

Before the race I got literally hundreds of supportive messages via social media that reduced me to tears and you will too if you interact with these amazing people online.

Now in my case, this was obviously a double edged sword as I would have looked a right clown if I had failed on Sunday and I am sure you can imagine the added pressure that this brings……

However during the race the reaction I got from not only the crowd, but many of the other athletes blew my mind, as you will soon find out…

Here is how it went…

(You might want to get cosy and make yourself a brew.)

Race Eve

They said at the race brief that you will not be able to get to sleep on race eve.

Trust me when I tell you – you will not be able to get to sleep on race eve.

I think I managed the grand total of 2 hours.

Not exactly the dream start to the biggest day of your life is it?

Just keep this is mind as you read.

Race Day

What I love about Ironman events is that they force you to be organised, come race morning simply put your wetsuit on and you are ready to race, everything else has already been taken care of the day before.

I arrived at the flash in good time – the entrance to the athletes area was packed out with members of the public and it was difficult to get through – make way for the athlete now, make way….

First job – check my bike.

I was absolutely convinced something would have happened to it overnight (you rack your bike the day before so it is all ready for you on race day)

Obviously I have been shouting my mouth off on social media about this crazy adventure for months and have generated a fair bit of attention.

Whilst 99.9% of people have been nothing but wonderful with me, I half expected someone to say ‘there is that dick Rookies bike – slash his tyres’ to the point where I seriously considered standing guard over it for the entire time transition was open…

Thankfully I was delighted to observe that everything was still in order in this regard so OK to proceed.

The Swim 2.4 Miles : Pennington Flash :

Cut Off : 2:20

Race Plan : 1:30

Actual Time : 1:30

At Ironman, instead of 2,000 people all getting into the water at once, you self seed in a big long line based on your estimated swim time like you would if you was lining up with the pacers at a marathon.

I still had my wetsuit down showing my tri-suit underneath with Iron Rookie all over it and already people were coming up to me saying that they had seen me online and wishing me all the best which was a lovely touch.

for some reason I moved up to the 1:20 pen, laithwaite had told me that the trick is to swim with people slightly faster and it was interesting to observe how the aggression/seriousness/growling seemed to increase the further I moved up the line.

I broke the ice with a couple of lads around me and we ended up having a right laugh.

The adrenaline rush you experience when you are stood on that start line of your first full Ironman event is like nothing I have ever experienced in my life.

The announcer said that Lucy Gossage (female winner) was dancing on the pontoon to the music – this I loved. I would later see her handing out medals to the final finishers some 6 hours after she had completed her own race – This I loved even more.

Once the national anthem finished I let out a roar with mixed reactions from my fellow athletes, some joined in, some laughed at me, some jumped out of there skin and some looked at me as if I was a psycho.

In Dublin for the 70.3 in the North Sea the roar that went up once the Claxton sounded will stay with me for the rest of my days.

I wanted the roar to be even better at IMUK but it was more a nervous silence, almost as if  many were thinking ‘Oh Shit’ rather than ‘let’s have it’.

That certainly appeared to be the case around me although we must remember nearly 50% of the field were fellow first timers and me letting out a roar like that, eyes bulging wild with excitement probably didn’t help their nerves one bit.

I do think though that Ironman should make it a condition of entry that after the national anthem you have to make a roar.

Anyhow race gets underway and we are all stood in a big long line waiting to ‘get in’

My race plan was based around the bike cut offs so I had to be in the water by 6:15am, simple as that.

6:14 and i’m still stood with the 1:20 guys  prob a good 5 minutes away from the pontoon.

Fuk it i’m getting in.

I then walked round the outside of the queue towards the water, which the stewards appeared to be very impressed about and I ended up getting in with the 1:15 boys.

Now normally when I get into the flash I prance about in the water for a good few minutes to allow my body to acclimatise.

There is no ‘prancing about’ at IMUK – you are straight in son, sink or swim.

Those first few seconds were horrible, the shock to the system whilst your body acclimatises, it makes getting your head into the water very difficult.

That said, after a short while I began to settle into my rhythm.

Like everybody else, I have heard all sorts of horror stories from people saying they got punched, kicked, bitten, winded, swam on, ribs broke etc at the Ironman swim start but get this…..

About 3 or 4 times early on people crashed into me.

Guess what happened?

They said Sorry!

Pardon?

Did you just say sorry?

You have got to remember that I have been used to swimming down at 3 sisters these last few weeks in a big pack of  ex rugby lads from Wigan….. i’m used to having a brawl!

I thought IMUK was going to be twice as bad, but here I am surrounded by athletes saying excuse me and sorry?

Wtf?

I remember thinking this is a bit like expecting Millwall at the football but Burton Albion turn up instead….

Once the initial ‘scrum’ was over there was plenty of room and we all just ‘got on with it’ – felt like it took forever to get to that first turn though!

Settling down nicely and I noticed a fluorescent green swim cap cutting through the field swimming in a perfect line with the buoys (one of the pros on lap 2) for a split second I thought about getting on their feet  – don’t you dare Rookie….don’t even think about it sunshine…..the thought made me laugh though.

Watching the pro effortlessly cut through the field like that whilst everyone else was hard at it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

I was really interested to see what would happen when our group got to the first turn buoy…..

No drama, everybody around me played nicely, slowed down and navigated the bend perfectly.

I tend to find this often happens if you are a middle of the pack swimmer, you will find yourself surrounded by people who ‘play the game’ so to speak.

‘Boy what a long way I have come since the first time I went for a swim in Penny Flash last year’ I thought to myself – i’m holding my own here!

Back to the race and I had been looking for a suitable ‘partner’ for a while and I finally found him.

We settled into a nice rhythm together for a good 20 minutes or so.

There is something that you need to learn  that will make your life much much easier on the swim.

I can’t go into detail about what that is without giving it away but lets just say the guy eventually stopped swimming.

I said to him ‘why did you stop I was enjoying that’

He laughed and replied ‘I know, that is exactly why I stopped’

I continued looking for my next victim and noticed a guy swimming front crawl with his goggles over his head instead of over his eyes.

‘What are you doing I asked’

‘What do you mean’ he replied.

‘Your goggles are on your head?’ I said

‘Oh I prefer it like this’ he replied?????

I thought I was hallucinating but no, this definitely happened.

As you make your way down the home straight you can hear the music pumping and the dj talking, this is the best feeling in the world ever!

I gets out to see the watch displaying 45 minutes so bang on plan.

You take a short walk round to start lap 2 and this section is packed with supporters looking out for their loved ones.

I started screaming ‘Coooomeee Onnnnn’ ‘Easy’ and ‘Again’ at them and they responded with a mix of cheers, whoops, laughter and looking at me as if I needed locking up.

Roar kids, I want you to roar! Roar back at me!!

Lap 2 with my confidence sky high – ‘Piece of piss this’ I thought to myself.

This time I was going to make a bee line for the buoys and swim as straight as possible.

Still plenty of room with everyone nicely spread out but then all of a sudden ‘whack’ someone smashed me full in the face and nearly took my googles clean off.

Fuk! Millwall are here I thought to myself but thankfuly it wasn’t a marauding mob just a random loose cannon.

It doesn’t hurt you must understand, it would have hurt his hand a darn site more than it hurt me, its more the fear of losing the goggles that I was worried about, but they were sandwiched inbetween 2 hats so they were going no-where – thanks to Sam for that one!.

Further round and I got a bit frustrated with a couple of swimmers swimming a bit erratically in front, I tried to overtake but it was difficult to get past them,  either relax or get out the fookin way please!

I spent the rest of the lap a bit bored to be honest, just kinda doing my own thing.

I amused myself by saying ‘areeet cocker?’ to the guys in the kayaks as I passed them, I often do this at events, I love seeing the expression on their face, I can tell that hardly anyone does it!

Just before the turn for home one shouted back at me “1:25” which I took to mean I was on for a 1:25 swim – cheers dude I’ll take that all day long.

Beng able to see the finish arch is just the best feeling ever but it felt like it took ages to ‘wind it in’

Crossed the timing mat with 1:30 on the watch, nearly an hour inside the cut-off.

Now I stressed to the max about that swim before the race.

Stressed to the max.

Pennington Flash is about a 40 minute drive from my house and you can go down there to practice open water swimming a couple of times a week at the organised swim sessions at leigh sailing club.

I say ‘organised swim session’ – pay a fiver and get in on your own with a couple of safety kayaks  would be the more accurate description.

I will never forget the first time I went down there last year – I lasted about 60 seconds in the water and hated every single second, despite being a competent mile pool swimmer at the time.

I hated the flash from day 1 and it has had a hold over me ever since.

The size of it, the depth of it, the colour of it (everything is grey) I always found it intimidating, there is something eerie about the place that I simply don’t like.

However I kept going down there week in week out to battle my demons with it.

But let me tell you something.

The Ironman swim is a million times easier on race day than it is swimming in the flash on your own in training….

Yes – one million times easier!

Why?

It’s in my book…….

T1 : Race Plan 15 Mins : Actual time : 12 Mins

I wont bore you with a report about T1 – after celebrating with the crowd I got changed into bike gear…simples.

I spent 12 minutes in there but I don’t give a shit, it was my reward for my hard work in the flash plus I had allowed 15 so well within plan.

Bike – 14 Mile pre loop penny flash round to Babylon  Lane

Race Plan : 1 Hour

Actual Time : 53 Minutes

First off pleased to report there were no issues with stray drinks bottles on the escape road from Penny flash, the odd one or two but nothing like I was expecting.

Either Ironman were all over this or athletes took heed of the great iron rookie (lol)

The bike was feeling good, I’d had a good week and a bit ‘cycle free’ and the legs were feeling strong.

The first 14 miles were fairly un-interesting really except for the fact that nearly ever other person that came past me shouted my name (it was printed on my top) or said they followed my blog, some even calling me a legend!

The thing was it wasn’t just fellow first timers that were saying it, many of the legendary Ironmen were saying it too!

I cant begin to tell you how this made me feel.

The other thing I noticed was that already quite a few fellow athletes had suffered punctures or tec issues and I saw many a bike upside down by the side of the road.

I didn’t half feel sorry for these poor people – tec issues so early on into the bike would be my worst nightmare.

I always said if I was going to fail I wanted it to be because of a physical failure on my part not a mechanical one and prayed that the iron gods would be smiling down on me throughout the circuit.

This section was taking me an hour in training and if I remember right I came in around 53 minutes despite taking it relatively easy so I was very pleased about this.

Lap 1 47 Mile IMUK loop from Babylon Lane :

Race Plan 3:30

Actual Time : 2:50

It was ace to get onto the main loop and get my first taste of the fantastic crowds on Babylon Lane, we have all seen the wonderful photographs, but now it was time to experience them in real life.

As always, the guys from COLT (Lancaster Tri) were amazing, cheering every single one of the athletes, not just their own.

I got a huge cheer and loads of  high 5’s which I absolutely adored.

When you have ridden Babylon lane on your own over a hundred times like I have with your only supporter being Liz of Grubbers sweets, to have crowds like this roaring you on is just the most exhillarating experience in the world and worth the Ironman entry fee tenfold.

On to sheephouse and more athletes were catching me up and saying hello including Laura (Lara) who was making me laugh keep shouting my name at the top of her voice. The lads from Rochdale Tri doing their bit to warm us up nicely before the sheephouse climb which was very much appreciated.

I took it slow over Sheephouse, once you got over the other side there were excellent crowds waiting for you outside the Black Dog pub so I gave them what they wanted by charging up the hill shouting ‘EASY!’  at them  and once again they erupted.

Wonka, one of the local lads had come stomping past me on Sheephouse earlier and took the mick – he was shouting ‘come on cocker’ at me (I called him cocker once on FB and he didn’t like it) but I got him on the other side as we made our descent down towards Abbey Village – ‘Come on then Cocker’ I shouted back at  him as I freewheeled past and I could tell he was pissed off lol. – Banter like this keeps you going, it really does.

More fantastic crowds once you got over to Wheelton at the Houghton Arms (Team Foggarty , Blackburn Road Runners, Tri Preston, Team MGPT ) and again give them what they want and they will treat you like a legend.

These crowds, honestly.

The only thing I can describe it to is like being a footballer and scoring a goal so the crowd start going mad just for you, well imagine that but every 20 minutes!!

This magnificent support powered me round and by the time I got to Buckshaw village I was well ahead of time.

I really appreciated the closed roads and riding with so many other kindered spirits.

I dropped down onto my aero bars and started to put my foot down, my bike was making that amazing noise, like a whirling, – u know the one I mean.

At Buckshaw one girl nearly took me clean out when she pulled out without looking but thankfully I managed to swerve  just in time and no harm was done.

Fellow athletes continued to fall foul of the tec issues and I continued to pray to the iron gods.

I pushed the first loop way to hard, ‘If Ironman are going to close the roads for me the least I can do is go for it in return’ I thought to myself.

When the adrenaline is pumping, the roads are closed and everyone is shouting for you it is very difficult to resist, very difficult and you start to dream.

Over to Hunters Hill and I was really looking forward to this as I knew there would be loads of  brilliant support on there for the ‘Hubsters Hill Party’.

Not only that but I was sure tri Preston would be waiting outside the Rigbye Arms once you got to the top.

They didn’t disappoint.

Please enter IMUK to experience these sensations.

I got high 5’d all the way up Hunters Hill by Scouse tim, Team Pie, St Helens Tri, Warrington Tri and the Endurance store race team!.

Once I got to Rigbye arms at the top I roared ‘COME ONNNN!!!’ as loud as I could at the tri preston lot and this was like chucking a grenade as the place exploded.

A couple of lads that were behind me on the bike at the time caught me up shortly after and said it was the most amazing noise they had ever experienced.

Turns out Tri Preston had been joined by the red and black of invictus tri Wigan which was a bit like having the toon army and the tartan army in the same place at the same time.

I rode the adrenaline wave for the rest of the loop  high as a kite and was delighted to end the first lap with the clock showing 2:50 – 40 minutes ahead of plan.

This put me 1:30 ahead of the bike cut off when I planned to be only 45 minutes ahead.

I was over the moon.

The other highlight of this first loop was seeing a couple of the pro’s in action.

One of them showed us all how it is done up Hunters Hill, zig zaging inbetween the stragglers without muttering a single curse.

The other further on, a huge guy dressed all in black I could hear coming a mile off, the noise, it was like a pack of ten were coming behind me but it was just him, I made sure I shifted out of his way pronto!

Also I swear one of the female pros turned back and waved at me near the end of lap 1 then again maybe I really was hallucinating this time.

47 Mile IMUK Loop Lap 2

Race Plan : 3:30

Actual Time : 3:10

Whilst I had pushed the bike way too hard on lap 1, I now had well over 4  hours to complete lap 2 to stay inside the cut off.

Got to be honest, the feeling I got by being ‘ahead’ of time helped me a lot.

I knew I could now coast round and still be well within plan.

I made the decision to take it easy this second lap and just enjoy it.

I had ace banter with a bunch of blokes behind me on Babylon who pointed out that my water bottle was leaking and one of the lads said ‘Thank fuk for that, I thought he was having a piss’…..

I nearly fell of my bike I was laughing that much.

Many many athletes were still callin my name and wishing me well as they passed.

The crowds were once again absolutely superb in all the places that I mentioned above but I was reminded this week on FB of other people.

Like the little old Indian lady that was stood outide her house on lap 1 clapping all the athletes and was still there in the exact same spot on lap 2.

Or the lovely old man with the huge beard at the top of Babylon with the biggest smile on his face as he waved at you – people like this, they make you cry.

Despite the fact that I was meant to be taking it easy I was travelling well on lap 2 although I thought my thighs were going to cramp up at times towards the end – this is something I haven’t experienced before but I put it down to all the adrenaline and 2 only hours sleep!

Just before I got to hunters I had a bit of a wobble when my chain stopped turning – please god no – but thankfully all that had happened was my drinks bottle had slipped down – watch this with the course issued bottles, I found they didn’t fit in my drinks cage – not complaining, not at all – just saying (By the way the drinks and food stations were excellent as you would expect)

Team Pie and their mates got me up Hunters second time round but when I got to the Rigbye arms at the top the most wonderful thing was waiting…..

Tri Preston had joined with invictus to make a big Mexican wave arch for you to ride under as the crowd roared their approval which was just the best sensation in the world ever.

This experience was so magical I almost turned round so I could ride through it again.

I ended lap 2 buzzing on 3:10 ish.

I make that a total double loop time of 6 hours versus a plan of 7 and more importantly I absolutely smashed the bike cut offs.

Can I just say thank you to all the wonderful supporters on that bike cicuit, all the tri clubs in particular, the way you were with me today when I am not even a member of your club was absolutely brilliant and you made my race, you really did.

I was relieved to have ended the 2 loops without any tec issues whatsoever save a split drinks bottle.

I started to make my way over to the Reebok to start the run – this final bit of the bike took longer than expected, 20 odd minutes if I remember right, not that it mattered, I was celebrating the whole way.

T2 Plan 15 Minutes : Actual : 16 Minutes

I knew if I made T2 the sacred medal was going to be mine.

I had done loads of partying on the bike as I cruised round to T2 but upon arrival I felt horrible, I had been high as a kite from all the supporters but now I was coming down, coming down fast!

It felt a bit like I was just getting in from an all nite rave, the best all night rave of my life, but instead of curling up and going to sleep, I now had to run a mara.

I chilled for a bit in T2 and sorted myself out, thinking about the amazing crowds that were waiting for us in Bolton town centre kept me going.

Run : 26.2 Miles!

OMG…

You don’t know what a marathon is until you try and do one up and down chorley new road after all that let me tell you.

I had written about how easy I had found my chorley new road runs in training.

How the legendary Ironmen that had actually done this as part of their Ironman didn’t rip me to pieces I will never know.

Trying to run up Chorley new Road from Bolton Town centre  feels like trying to run up a 20ft brick wall on lap 1, never mind  lap 3.

But put that to one side for a second.

I learnt things about this run on race day….

Many things…..

Yes it is a marathon, but it is nothing like what you imagine.

It’s not what you think it is….

Let me tell you something.

IMUK is going to stay in Bolton town centre for the next 5 years.

They are very unlikely to change the run route.

Once you  learn, understand and apply  what I tell you in my book, you will realise that the Ironman medal can easily be yours too, if you want it.

Wonderful thing hindsight isn’t it?

Congratulations, you get to benefit from it….

Aside from that, Many other things get you through the run….

The amazing volunteers on the aid stations – one lady outside Bolton school handing out drinks was literally dancing every time I saw her – stuff like this is magical….

Seeing my brother, seeing my family, seeing Crooky, Sam, Mel, Paul Fisher and countless others and giving them hugs as we crossed on the run.

Hearing numerous other athletes shouting my name as they passed.

Seeing the turtle doing the funky disco on chorley street hill.

I seemed to have acquired little pockets of supporters dotted all around the town centre that would go mad when I ran past them shouting my name – Carol Spoor and her crew in particular who were just ace for me – I don’t even know these people yet their support for me was unbelievable!

Steve cook and his gang who sadly did not make the cut offs himself but still came into the town centre to  cheer me and his other favourites on.

Then there was big G, every time I turned the corner to make my way onto Le-mans crescent he would introduce me at the top of his voice every single lap – he was stood there with all his family  with a huge smile on his face,  he was paying me back for the time I went down to Bolton Park run to give him a high 5 after he posted on twitter that a runner left him high and dry when he was stewarding there once.

Boy did Big G and his family pay me back big time!!

But my greatest memory of all has to be this….

I had been having amazing banter with all the lads stood drinking outside both the lion of Vienna pubs and the Retreat on Chorley New Road.

It all started when one of them spotted my Bolton Wanderers badge on my Tri-Suit and he shouted ‘White Army’ at me so I shouted it back.

That was it.

From then on every time I passed those pubs they were looking out for me and they would all start singing ‘White Army!’ at me as I ran past.

On my last run out of the town centre some of the supporters from Retreat invaded the  course and began to dance, sing and run with me up Chorley New Road.

But that wasn’t all.

For my final lap I had a surprise for them.

When my dad died he left me a Bolton Wanderers flag,

I had a vision of running onto the finish boulevard waving that flag in order to feel that somehow my dad was with me as I completed this amazing journey.

The flag was waiting for me at the top of Chorley New Road.

You can imagine what happened when I ran past those pubs for the final time waving that flag with the 3 bands on my wrist.

The places went mental.

Eurphoria.

Right There.

Total euphoria.

I had done it.

I had done what I set out to do all along.

I had proved that anything is possible with hours to spare (14:49).

But way more important than that……

I had the time of my life as I did it cocker….

To your amazing journey!

Did you like this article?

Then you will love my book!

it’s all about how I went from zero fitness to completing an Ironman triathlon – its nearly 500 pages in total and it’s absolutely crammed full of hints and tips for first timers at every race level from first super sprint tri to first Ironman and everything inbetween!

The book is also available on amazon in the US but please read the UK reviews first! you can check them out here…

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