Rookies ‘Going Again’

Arite?

I’ve got some news…..

I’ve only gone and done it…..

Bagged myself one of the last few slots for Ironman UK on the brink of last orders like….

Mad eh?

You don’t know the half of it.

Before I get started, please allow me to ‘frame’ this post.

In my opinion, people that enter Ironman can usually be broken down into one of three categories.

First, you have your top 10%.

These are the pros, the podium finishers and those chasing the Kona dream

Make no mistake,  those who race iron distance at a competive level are without doubt the finest athletes in all the world.

Don’t let anyone tell you any different.

Ever..

The fact your average Joe gets to ‘race’ alongside these legends is one of the things that make an Ironman event so special in my opinion.

More importantly, the way that those in this cluster not only welcome, but seem to actively embrace said average Joe is one of the things that I find most magical of all.

In the Second group, We have those looking to PB or those chasing a certain time in order to be happy. Don’t get me wrong, what I am about to share with you still applies to many within this group, but they are very focused on their ‘time’ –  I would estimate that this bracket make up  the next 60% of the field.

Finally, we have the remaining 30%.

This is where Rookie sits.

Those in this group aren’t arsed about achieving a certain time in order to ‘be happy’, the only times they give a shit about are the cut off times – they simply want to get round, get their hands on the medal and  secure bragging rights for the rest of their lives – either that or they are absolutely over the moon just to be a part of the whole thing for reasons I will come onto in a sec.

Iron Rookie sees himself as one of the self appointed flag bearers for those in this group and It is from this place that the following post has been born.

Just bear that in mind as you read please.

Cheers.

Now to many of those in the second cluster, me ‘going again’ will be no big deal…

“So what?” I hear them cry, “loads of people do it year after year, what do you want Rookie? a lollipop???”

But to me, it’s a big deal.

Very big.

Here’s why…

Once I got awarded the sacred medal at Bolton last year “thats it” I said to myself, my work here is done, I have achieved everything I ever wanted  and my journey is now complete.

You have to remember, when I first started out, I couldn’t swim more than a single length front crawl, I hadn’t ridden a road bike for over 15 years and I was unable to run anymore than 10 yards without wanting to stop.

Fast forward a couple of years and I find myself standing (lying) in the finishers enclosure at Ironman UK.

I had taken Aldershot Town from the conference all the way to the the champions league  final and  now there was nowhere else left to go.

I had conquered the world and everything in it.

The day after IMUK, I clearly remember one of the race crew posting  a message on facebook asking for all the Ironmen to come and get their bikes so they could go home..

“Keep the fukin bike mate” I replied, barely able to walk.

That bike has been sat in my spare room, 3 bands wrapped around seatpost, ever since.

You see, all my training last year was geared around one thing.

Being able to complete Ironman UK within the cut off times.

I wasnt going for a bike ride because I enjoyed going for a bike ride, I was going for a bike ride because I wanted to pratice the IMUK route over and over so I was ready for whatever the course threw at me on race day (I ended up loving it, but I digress)

The point is, all the training I did last year was specific to achieving my dream of becoming an Ironman and once you have trained this way for so long and then achieved your objective, what else is there to do?

Go for another bike ride?

Whats the point?

Where is it leading?

What does it achieve?

You are already sat on top of the highest mountain there is to climb.

So I became very apathetic about training for quite a long time.

I had done the odd mile pool swim now and again but nothing further than that and certainly no open water swimming.

As I said, the bike has sat untouched in my spare room.

Ok, I had a go at trying to get my run times down earlier in the year,  but I was playing at it really.

The thought of doing another triathlon didnt interest me in the slightest, I had already completed every race distance available, and besides, I was way more interested in going out on the piss to be honest.

So thats how the last 11 months have played out – Me sat around scratching my balls wondering what to do next and  generally not being arsed with it all.

But then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, I gets this overwhelming desire to re-enter IMUK.

This last week or so I found myself checking if slots were still available on a daily basis.

I dont know where it came from….

Then again, I know exacty where it has come from…..

Firstly, I’ve got a screw loose somewhere.

You will find a fair few of us have. (in a good way like)

Secondly, I don’t half miss the banter out on the loop during training.

Random people i’ve never met before catching me on the bike and shouting ‘Iron Rookie! – How you doing pal’

I miss reading about everyone elses journey on Facebook or twitter and keeping tabs on where they are at with it.

I miss bumping into people from all over the country who have come to Bolton to practice the circuit and listening to their stories as I escort them round the loop.

I miss that sign outside the Rigbye arms and I miss crazy shit like twatting myself up Hunters Hill of a wednesday afternoon then being applauded by random strangers sat in the beer garden at the top.

I miss the craic down at 3 sisters for the monthly open water TT’s where you can train alongside some of the finest age groupers in England.

I miss the gerneral sensation of being ‘iron fit’ that only those who have experienced it knows what it feels like.

I love strutting round the gym with my chest all puffed out  in my little Ironman Bolton Finisher top while everyone gives me ‘the nod’ of approval (even the sted heads) but I worry  that a 2017 finisher top won’t  ‘cut it’ quite the same in 2018.

I love the idea of doing consecutive races year after year and this was my one big chance to keep the ball rolling.

If Ironman is a religion then race day is the church.

I felt obliged to enter.

I feel drawn to it.

For some reason i just feel like Iron Rookie needs to be there.

A few people have said that my work inspired them to enter this years event and I want to race alongside them as they achieve their dreams.

The other thing is, everybody in and around Bolton absolutely adores the Ironmen, Facebook is littered with stories of local business owners throughout the route going out of their way to help wannabe ironmen in their hour of need as they train and random strangers doing likewise.

Tell anyone within a 40 mile radius of Bolton that you are training for the Ironman and you get treated like rotyalty mate.

Thats addictive.

Very addictive.

Especially when you fukin live here…

But by far the most pivotal one of the lot, is this…..

The number one thing that hits you when you race Ironman Bolton for the first time is that once you get onto the main bike and run circuits, the streets are packed to the rafters with tens of thousands of supporters.

Now those supporters are of course there to catch a glimpse of the finest athletes in the world, legends such as Skipper, Viennott, Clarke, Kotsegarov, Fogarty, Gomes, Cartmell, Gossage and their ilk…

But, unlike every other sport where once the elite have whizzed by everybody pisses off….

At Ironman, they stay.

They stay for you.

They stay because they are either affiliated with one of the hundreds of tri clubs throughout the north west whose support for all the athletes at this event is the stuff of folklore.

Or, they stay because they are there to support  their loved ones and that loved one is very  likely to be an average joe, just like you.

What you need to realise is this.

As far as the vast majority of those wonderful supporters are concerned, what you are doing is so far out of their reality, they don’t believe it would ever be possible for them.

Just the very fact that you are now ‘one of the Ironmen’ makes you a super hero as far as they are concerned and they will treat you as such.

Those brilliant supporters have been stood on their feet for hours and lets have it right, they are probably bored shitless by the time you come trundling past.

What they are waiting for, is someone to give them a bit of excitement.

That person needs to be you.

If you play up to them, have a bit of banter with them, shout things to them, make it fun and pretend you are finding it easy, they will erupt and treat you like a legend.

Its like lighting the blue touchpaper of the best firework in the world.

But the trouble is, once an average Joe experiences this sensation, Ironman becomes his crack cocaine.

So that is why I am back.

I’m desperate for my next fix.

But there is a problem.

Well two actually.

First.

I have put on about 2 stone since my race weight last year.

Not good.

Second,

I havent trained properly.

I only went back out onto the circuit this last week and my  bike loop is currently at 3:50 which means I am at serious risk of missing the cut offs. www.strava.com/activities/1635668857

Also I havent run any further than 10k.

My one saving grace is that I went down to 3 sisters on Wednesday and banged out a 1:24 iron swim – fuked aint it? (how the hell does that work by the way?)

My other saving grace is that I got some sad news recently.

“Rookie, I am sorry to tell you that you have lost your job”

My gut reaction?

“Fantastic!!!….that means I get to train for Ironman”

Told you – screw loose.

Make no mistake, I have got some serous work to do over the next few weeks if I am to have any chance whatsoever of hitting the cut offs.

I’ll keep you posted, next update will be Sunday 23rd.

Don’t worry, there are only 4 weeks to go and that will be it. (oh shit)

Well, until next year that is…..

Like this article? Then you will love this book, its nearly 500 pages crammed full of hints and tips detailing exactly how i was able to go from zero fitness to completing an Ironman triathlon – please take a moment to read the reviews on amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Ironmen-Iron-Rookie/dp/1974002322/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1529099273&sr=8-1&keywords=iron+rookie

Are you currently training for or aspiring towards IMUK and want to come and recce the route but don’t know the circuit and need somewhere to stay? then click here www.iron-rookie.com/b-b-tours/

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