It’s always difficult to predict my estimated times for long course tri’s. Each course is different and the build up is usually fraught with some form of physical hiccup and Wales was no different. Training had gone pretty well up until about 6 weeks out when an insufficient recovery period after a long run resulted in a small calf tear which put paid to any running at all from then until the trot into T1 on race day!
I had hired a camper van to break up the long (very long!) drive down to Tenby into a couple of days but a pesky school prize giving on the Thursday night meant that an early start on Friday morning was on the cards and we made it into Tenby by late afternoon the same day. After a quiet night in the van, we made our way into Tenby itself on the Saturday morning to register, rack the bike and load up on IM Merch. Tenby’s population is usually around 5,000 but on race weekend this swells to over 20,000; it’s safe to say that Ironman takes over Tenby completely with shops displaying IM signs, flags up everywhere and lots and lots of people.
The atmosphere is fantastic and with clear blue skies and the temperature up around 19 degrees, we did all the race admin and spent the rest of the day mooching about, drinking coffee and celeb spotting (for the record, Shane Williams, Joe Skipper, Lucy Gossage).
My biggest concern over the weekend was race day transport. Much of Tenby is closed to traffic on race day and big carparks are either uses as transition, full, or not suitable for a long wheelbase VW camper. The organisers put on a park and ride facility which would involve, driving from our campsite in the morning to the P&R site, getting on a bus for a 25min journey into Tenby and then post-race, waiting for a bus to take us back to the P&R so that I could drive the van back into Tenby to pick up my bike before driving back to our campsite – I know. We had parked up our van on the Saturday, in one of the few carparks which happened to be right behind the finish line of the race and so as we walked back to the van later that day, my wife and I looked at each other and both thought exactly the same thing- “we’re staying here!” Judging by the other vans in the car park with screens across their windows, we weren’t the only ones to come up with that idea, so our morning and post-race commute was now a 10 minute walk – result!
Anyway – onto the race.
Race day dawned dry and bright with no wind and my concerns about a choppy sea swim were banished with glassy smooth water and a stunning sunrise. After the singing of the Welsh National Anthem and the obligatory blasting out of ACDC’s Thunderstruck, we were off. I had placed myself in the 1hour 10min start pen which turned out to be just about bang on as after the two-lap swim course I came out in 1:11 feeling very comfortable and started up the zig zag path from the beach on the way into T1. The run into T1 is approx. 1 kilometre and already the crowds were lining the streets cheering and shouting to every competitor as we made our way in various states of undress towards our bikes.
Onto my bike (after a mild panic with a flat front tyre!) and I set off on the notoriously bumpy bike route. The course consists of a series of loops, a bit like a figure of eight where you do one of the loops twice – if that makes sense! The first loop is the easiest section of the bike and I was blasting along enjoying the pace but knowing what was to come. The end of the first loop brings you back in toward Tenby from where you start the double loop heading North and East and this is where the hills start to hit. For the most part it is just pretty undulating with nothing too challenging until you hit the last few miles. The climb out of Wisemans Bridge at about 70 miles is 16% and is bad enough once but you know that you have to hit it again after about 105 miles. Not long after that there is a long climb up through Saundersfoot which would ordinarily be a real long struggle but the crowds were out in force and it’s probably the closest I’ll get to a TDF climb with spectators closed in on both sides shouting and cheering, music blaring and a real party going on. There’s no chance of easing back on this climb so you put a smile on your face, get out of the saddle and give it some beans. I’d be back to see them all again after about 110 miles!
The bike was tough – especially the end of the second and third loops and I had estimated around 7 hours so was pleased to come in at around 6:50 feeling better than I had anticipated.
The run was a real unknown to me as I hadn’t laced up my running shoes for 6 weeks and so I wasn’t sure whether my legs would play ball or not. I was banking on 35 years of running history to see me through and keeping my fingers crossed that my injury had cleared up.
Coming off the bike, it was very quickly apparent that it had taken more out of my legs than I had thought and they hadn’t got the message that we still had a marathon to run. My hamstrings immediately reduced in length by about 25% and my back had started to stiffen up. I decided to take my time (I had no choice!) and set off at a brisk walk to stretch them out and let them get their act together. After 5 minutes or so I managed to get into a bit of a run but I knew from the off, that it was going to be a long day and my 4:15 target was out the window.
The run is a 4 lap course which take you up a long steady hill out of Tenby to a turnaround point before you come back into the town and meander your way through the narrow streets before passing tantalisingly close to the finish line to start your next lap. Tenby is a very old walled town with narrow streets and when you cramb in 20,000 spectators, the wall of sound and support you get throughout the whole course is amazing. Your name is written on your number and so the number of “come on Graeme, you’ve got this!” and “keep going Graeme you’re amazing!” was what kept me going.
I managed to adopt a walk / run strategy for the whole run, stopping to walk just as I felt the early flickering of cramp looming when I would walk until it passed and then got back into a slow run.
On each lap, you received a coloured band to put round your wrist to signify the number of completed laps; a different colour for each lap. As the race went on the value of these bands went up and I would gladly have sold my soul for the coveted Yellow band which signified you were done and on your way home. Finally, that band was placed on my wrist and I stared back down into Tenby for the last time. This time, instead of passing the end of the red carpet to start my next lap. I went straight on. Those last 100 meters are amazing, the crowd is 5 deep , the music is blasting out and I am not embarrassed to say, I milked every step, high fiving as I went as I heard the announcer call out, Graeme Reid, You Are an Ironman! Cheesy I know but it didn’t half feel good!
My time! 13 hours 41 mins, almost exactly halfway down the field and although somewhat slower then my hoped for 13 hours I was happy to get a finish. 6 Iron Distance Triathlons in the bag.
Not sure what I’ll do next year. At this time of year I always think that I’ll take it easy the following year and not enter anything long but then I start nosing about the internet to see what’s out there and start thinking of some of the events on my bucket list that I haven’t done yet. There also something about September that resonates with me. 5 years ago I had a brain haemorrhage whilst out riding my bike and thanks to the quick thinking of my wife and the skills of my surgeon I re-evaluated what was important and decided to grab opportunities when I can so my finger is always poised over the “Enter” button – you’re a long time dead!
